Jonty Rhodes, the fielding coach for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), recently addressed the growing speculation about whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma will join the franchise for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. With the IPL 2025 mega auction approaching, there has been increasing uncertainty regarding Rohit’s future, especially with rumours suggesting he might leave Mumbai Indians.
Rhodes’ Admiration for Rohit Sharma’s Elegance on the Field
Rhodes, who has closely observed Rohit’s performance during their time with the five-time IPL champions, expressed high regard for the talented opener. Despite his admiration for Rohit’s elegance on the field, Rhodes believes that Rohit’s presence is not essential for LSG to achieve success.
Rhodes said: “I mean, for a long time at Mumbai Indians, I felt I had the best job in the world. I got to watch Rohit Sharma practice and play cricket. He is so elegant.”
“I mean, there’s the balance of teams, who’s in the side. I love watching Rohit Sharma bat, but I’m not saying he must come in and replace, and then suddenly we change our setup. So whatever, as I said, whatever happens, who is ever there? I’ll be doing my best to support.”
LSG’s Potential without Rohit Sharma
In addition to the speculation about Rohit’s future, the situation surrounding LSG captain KL Rahul has also attracted attention. Reports suggest that Rahul may not continue with LSG after the franchise owner, Sanjiv Goenka, reportedly criticized him following a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Jonty Rhodes on Player Retention Decisions
When asked about Rahul’s future, Rhodes expressed relief at not having to make decisions regarding player retention. Known as one of the finest fielders in cricket history, Rhodes remains actively involved in the sport even after retiring. Beyond his coaching role, Rhodes is exploring various cricket-related opportunities and has been named as the brand ambassador for the inaugural season of the Pro Cricket League (PCL).
He added by saying: “Well, luckily, hypothetically, or in real life, that’s as a fielding coach. I don’t have to worry about that just now.”
In discussing new ventures, Rhodes remains committed to personal growth and skill improvement.
He said: “I think what a learning curve is seeing if I can sit off the field. As a coach, you don’t get involved during the game, but it leads to a part of the buildup, part of the preparation. So I will have to see if I have got the patience to be able to sit and watch the whole thing to still be able to do a little bit of coaching, but yeah, a very new role, and it’s a part of evolving as an individual. As a cricket player, you always evolve. You have to work on your technique and your skills, so yes, I’m trying to improve my skills as a human being.”
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