Why is Rohit Sharma in World Cup squad? MI batter departs for 4, continues low score trend on his birthday

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 team was announced by BCCI and fans also celebrated Rohit Sharma's birthday on April 30, 2024. However, when the Indian captain's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 team took to the field, things did not go in the batters' favour.

In Match 48 of the IPL, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won the toss and opted to bowl against Mumbai Indians (MI). The bowlers got off to a good start, swiftly dismissing opening batter Rohit Sharma in the 1.3 over for just 4 runs off 5 balls – the 4 coming as a boundary. This score adds to the low totals he has experienced on his birthdays during the IPL. Fans have now taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to question why he is in the World Cup squad.

Rohit Sharma's birthday matches in IPL:

17 vs DC 2009

1 vs SRH 2014

2 vs RR 2022

3 vs RR 2023

4 vs LSG 2024

As for the clash, at the end of the Powerplay, MI managed to get just 28 runs and lost four wickets. Another World Cup-bound batter - Suryakumar Yadav departed for 10(6). Tilak Varma was run out for 7 off 11 and India vice-captain Hardik Pandya was dismissed for a duck.

Ishan Kishan is still at the crease and is now joined by Nehal Wadhera who is trying to anchor the innings. Marcus Stoinis, Mohsin Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq all took one wicket each.

Teams:

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah

Subs: Nuwan Thushara, Kumar Kartikeya, Dewald Brevis, Naman Dhir, Shams Mulani

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w/c), Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ashton Turner, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav

Subs: Arshin Kulkarni, Manimaran Siddharth, Krishnappa Gowtham, Yudhvir Singh, Prerak Mankad.