Rohit Sharma Takes Pay Cut for Bumrah: A Leadership Move in IPL

In a remarkable display of leadership, Rohit Sharma took a pay cut to ensure Jasprit Bumrah became the highest-paid player for the Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2025. Despite being replaced as captain by Hardik Pandya, Rohit's decision highlights his commitment to the team and recognition of Bumrah's contributions. However, MI's performance under Hardik's captaincy has been disappointing, raising questions about the team's future. As they struggle at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2026, fans are left wondering if a leadership change is on the horizon. Will MI turn their fortunes around, or is a playoff spot out of reach?

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 18, 2026, 21:07 IST

Rohit Sharma's Generosity in IPL 2025

Harsha Bhogle recently disclosed a significant decision made by Rohit Sharma, revealing that he opted for a pay reduction prior to IPL 2025 to ensure that Jasprit Bumrah became the highest-paid player for the Mumbai Indians (MI). Rohit, who has been the face of MI and has led them to five IPL championships, was replaced as captain before IPL 2024, with Hardik Pandya taking over the leadership role. Despite this change, Rohit maintained his stature by prioritizing others, demonstrating that true leaders remain influential.

Bhogle recounted that MI had initially planned to offer equal salaries to Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav. However, Rohit suggested that Bumrah should receive a higher salary to honor his contributions. Consequently, Bumrah was retained for 18 crores, while Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav received 16.35 crores each, and Rohit accepted a lower salary of 16.30 crores. "During the retention discussions, they faced the challenge of categorizing these four players. Ultimately, they decided to pay them equally, but Rohit advocated for Bumrah to earn more, indicating his status in Indian cricket," Bhogle explained.

Challenges Faced by MI Under Hardik's Captaincy

On another note, the switch between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya has not yielded positive results for MI. The team faced a disappointing season in IPL 2024 and only slightly improved in IPL 2025, managing to reach the playoffs. However, they are currently struggling in IPL 2026, sitting at the bottom of the points table with just one victory and four losses. Hardik's leadership has come under scrutiny, leading to frustration among MI supporters who are calling for Rohit Sharma to reclaim the captaincy. However, this seems unlikely as Rohit has retired from T20 internationals and may not participate in IPL for much longer.

The team's poor start has placed MI's campaign in a precarious position, requiring nothing short of a miracle to secure a playoff spot. They must win all their remaining matches or potentially lose only one to have a realistic chance of advancing. Given their current performance and the competitive nature of T20 cricket, this is a daunting task. Notably, the Mumbai Indians have not clinched an IPL title in over five years, with their last victory occurring in IPL 2020 when Rohit Sharma led them to triumph over Delhi Capitals in the final.