Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are two of the finest Indian and IPL players of all time. Both players demonstrated their worth as captains and contributed to their teams’ five IPL championships.
Rohit Sharma made his IPL debut in 2008 in playing for the Deccan Chargers till 2010. He then joined Mumbai Indians (MI) and steered the side from 2013 to 2023. ‘Hitman’ has scored 6,957 runs in 270 games with 46 fifties and two centuries.
MS Dhoni, meanwhile, has been playing for CSK from 2008 except 2016 and 2017 when he played for Rising Pune Supergiant. The keeper-batter has mustered 5,439 runs off his 278 appearances with 24 fifties.
Let’s examine Rohit Sharma’s performance in the IPL playoffs in relation to MS Dhoni.
1. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni’s Impressive Playoff Performances in the IPL
Rohit Sharma has participated in 21 postseason games thus far. He has scored 316 runs in these games, 285 of which have been for the Mumbai Indians.
MS Dhoni, meanwhile, has performed admirably, amassing 523 runs in 28 tournament playoff games. He has amassed 473 runs for CSK in the playoffs in addition to his 50 runs for the Rising Pune Supergiant.
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs |
| Rohit Sharma | 21 | 21 | 316 |
| MS Dhoni | 28 | 23 | 523 |
2. Contrasting Playoff Records of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni
Rohit Sharma’s average of 15.80 is a reflection of his lack of contributions in the playoffs. At 108.96, his strike rate is likewise inadequate. In the latter stages of the competition, the top-order hitter has not been reliable enough.
MS Dhoni has an average of 34.86 and a strike rate of 132.07 in postseason games, which is impressive for a middle-order hitter.
| Player | Innings | Average/ Strike rate |
| Rohit Sharma | 21 | 15.80/108.96 |
| MS Dhoni | 23 | 34.86/132.07 |
3. Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni’s Impact in Playoff Wins
The player’s contributions, which ultimately lead to a successful cause, are another factor used to determine his value. Remarkably, Rohit has scored 250 runs in a playoff victory, which is 79.11% of his total runs. He does, however, have a 19.23 average in these games.
Rohit got 50 off 26 to help MI post 202 and win by 41 runs over CSK in the 2015 IPL final.
At an average of 26.36, MS Dhoni has amassed 290 runs in the playoffs, or 55.44% of his total runs. Dhoni led CSK to the final in the IPL 2012 Eliminator match after smashing 51* off 20 against MI.
| Player | Total Runs | Runs in winning cause | % of runs in winning cause | Average |
| Rohit Sharma | 316 | 250 | 79.11 | 19.23 |
| MS Dhoni | 523 | 290 | 55.44 | 26.36 |
4. Most runs in IPL finals
Rohit Sharma has done better than MS Dhoni when it comes to IPL finals. He has struck at nearly three runs per gam in six innings, scoring 183. In the IPL 2020 final, his finest knock of 68 off 51 handed over Delhi Capitals defeat to MI and the title.
MS Dhoni has 180 runs in nine innings during his appearances in finals but Sachin has 89 in 11 innings. Dhoni played like a lone warrior in the IPL 2013 final against MI, banging out 63* off 45, but to no avail.
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS |
| Rohit Sharma | 6 | 6 | 183 | 68 |
| MS Dhoni | 11 | 9 | 180 | 63* |
Conclusion
In the IPL playoffs, MS Dhoni outperforms Rohit Sharma in terms of runs, average, and strike rate. However, Rohit dominated the matchup in terms of contributing to the winning cause.
‘Hitman’ has also outperformed Dhoni in the important IPL finale, making greater contributions.
