Rohit Sharma or Suryakumar Yadav - who has been the greater batter for MI in the IPL? 

The Mumbai Indians have hedged their bets on perhaps the best T20 batters going around the world at the moment - Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav - for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League as they have done over the last few seasons. While Rohit has been with the franchise since leaving the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2011, Suryakumar made his entry into the team in 2018, after having played a lone season in 2012.

Rohit has led MI to distinction in the past, although he was stripped of the captaincy in favor of Hardik Pandya - whom the franchise felt important enough to recall from Gujarat Titans - last season. He has been at the helm for the five IPL titles that they have won so far, and also led them to one of the two Champions League T20 titles they have accumulated.

He has scored 5,458 of his 6,628 IPL runs for MI, and is, in short, a legendary figure for the franchise.

Suryakumar, on the other hand, played a season for the franchise in 2012 before jetting off to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with whom he won the IPL in 2014. He spent four seasons at Eden Gardens and scored 608 runs before coming back to his 'home' franchise ahead of the 2019 IPL.

It appeared as if Suryakumar's fortunes turned almost dramatically at MI as he amassed 512, 424 and 480 runs in 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively, lending weight to their middle order. In total, he has scored 2,984 runs for MI at a strike rate of 148.40, including two tons and 23 half-centuries.

Rohit, meanwhile, has scored his runs at a strike rate of 131, which is not bad for an opener, all the more since it includes two centuries and 35 half-centuries. Suryakumar's average, however, is slightly better at 35, while Rohit's languishes at 29.50. The former has batted in 94 innings as compared to the latter's 208, and hence, a slight distortion is likely to happen. If overall records were to be compared as they are, Rohit is ahead in terms of number of runs scored, while Yadav is at an advantage owing to his superior strike rate and average.

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Both have distinctive roles in the team

What we have to understand here is that both players, despite having racked up impressive numbers, play rather distinctive roles in the team. While Rohit opens the innings for MI and is expected to get them off to a good start against the new ball inside the powerplay, Suryakumar bats in the middle-order and is often around to take them towards the finish line either while setting up a total or chasing it. It cannot be denied that both can play shots across the ground that spell terror in the hearts of their opposition bowlers.

Rohit has earned his name being one of the most flamboyant batters in the world, but to be fair, Yadav is no less so. Both have excellent strokes down the ground but can be expected to open up their chances towards either side if the need is pressing enough. The Indian skipper can be relied upon to bring out his pickup shot over midwicket or employ the pull and hook inside the powerplay if the bowlers try to go short.

Suryakumar, on the other hand, is known to be Mr 360 - an epithet used for his ability to hit strokes virtually everywhere on the ground, even behind the wicketkeeper.

The latter has the ability to get into exciting positions to be able to execute these shots, and they usually help him surprise both the bowler and the opposition captain. His pull, hook, scoop and ramp shots make it extremely challenging to position fielders, and opposition captains perhaps look more keenly to see him depart than Rohit, who can be foxed equally comfortably with a piercing inswinger at the beginning when his feet are not moving too well.

Both have played stellar knocks for the franchise in the past, and it is worth noting that they had more than a major hand in winning games single-handedly as well. Seldom have those who watched Rohit Sharma batter the KKR bowlers for an unbeaten 109 in 2012 forgotten his heroics, nor has the 35-ball 80 Yadav scored against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023 to chase a target of 200 in 16.3 overs been relegated to the backrooms of memory.

It is frankly unfair to compare two batters who essay different roles for the team, but Suryakumar's higher average and strike rate goes in his favor.