Rohit Sharma’s ‘new version’ has Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians excited for IPL 2026

Mahela Jayawardene, head coach of the Mumbai Indians, cannot wait for Rohit Sharma to return to play in IPL 2026.

Updated on: Mar 18, 2026, 13:24:42 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Another season of the Indian Premier League is upon us. With IPL 2026 just 10 days away, the spotlight will, as always, be split between emerging Indian talent and the everlasting appeal of veterans MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, aka ‘Ro-Ko-Dho’. For the trio, the IPL carries added significance, as it is the only T20 competition they feature in. Dhoni has long retired from international cricket, while Kohli and Rohit now play only ODIs for India. Before the duo returns to national duties in June, the IPL offers the perfect platform to fine-tune the preparations.

Rohit Sharma has hit the ground running (AFP)

Kohli reached Bengaluru earlier today and is set to link up with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp, while Rohit has already joined his Mumbai Indians teammates. He has begun training and, having launched Shardul Thakur for a towering six, looked in sublime touch. Leaner than he has been in years, Rohit has raised expectations within the MI camp, with head coach Mahela Jayawardene backing the 38-year-old for a strong season. MI begin their IPL 2026 campaign on April 29 against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.

“He (Rohit) has done a lot of work behind the scenes. He had a lot of skill work done in the last week. He joined us on the first day of our training camp. He looked very good in the nets. This is a newer version of Rohit as well – much fitter and very committed. So, I’m looking forward to him leading us from the top,” Jayawardene said on the sidelines of the final of the MI Junior.

Rohit's chance to prove himself

The last few years have been underwhelming by Rohit’s standards, although the previous season marked his best since 2016. With four half-centuries and 418 runs, he finished as MI’s second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2025, behind Suryakumar Yadav. Rohit’s role last season was largely limited to batting, having featured as MI’s Impact Player for most of the campaign.

Rohit was last seen during the semi-final and final of the T20 World Cup, watching India’s matches from the VIP stands. With the 2027 Cricket World Cup in sight, he has hit the ground running and is expected to be at his fittest and sharpest when he returns for MI.

However, his most recent ODI outing – against New Zealand – didn’t deliver, with scores of 26, 24 and 11 as India lost the series 1-2. With a fresh set of ODI assignments lined up post-IPL, IPL 2026 presents Rohit with a golden opportunity to rediscover his rhythm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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