Photo Credit: Instagram Photos of @jontyrhodes8, @rohitsharma45
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) fielding coach Jonty Rhodes addressed the rumors surrounding India captain Rohit Sharma potentially joining the franchise for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. With the mega auction approaching, uncertainty about Rohit’s future with Mumbai Indians has intensified. Speculation about Rohit possibly leaving the five-time IPL champions has been growing. Rhodes, who has worked closely with Rohit during their time together at Mumbai Indians, praised the seasoned batter and dynamic opener.
“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,” Rhodes said.
While Rhodes admires Rohit’s elegance on the field, he doesn’t believe Rohit’s presence is essential for LSG’s success.
“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,” he added.
In addition to the reports about Rohit’s future, speculation around franchise captain KL Rahul has also gained attention.
Rumors suggest that Rahul may not play for LSG again after franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka appeared to criticize the wicketkeeper-batter following their loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
When asked about Rahul’s future, Rhodes expressed relief that he wasn’t responsible for making player retention decisions.
“Well, luckily, hypothetically, or in real life, that’s as a fielding coach. I don’t have to worry about that just now,” he said.
Renowned as one of the greatest fielders in cricket history, Rhodes remains actively involved in the sport long after his playing days.
Beyond coaching, Rhodes continues to explore various cricketing roles. He was recently named brand ambassador for the inaugural season of the Pro Cricket League (PCL).
Discussing this new venture, Rhodes emphasized his ongoing desire to improve as a person.
“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,” he stated.
