The Mumbai Indians (MI) are preparing for IPL 2026 with a clear shift in how they plan to use one of their biggest stars – Rohit Sharma. After one season, he was limited to an impact player role due to fitness concerns, head coach Mahela Jayawardene now it’s clear that the franchise wants Rohit to be more involved on the field this time around.
Mumbai Indians are set to move away from the Impact Player strategy
Last season, Rohit’s role was carefully managed. He was often used purely as a batter, coming in when needed but not always taking the field. While he still contributes significantly with the bat, the approach has raised eyebrows, with many feeling that a player of his stature should be more fully involved in the game. Now that’s ready to change.
“Rohit, the way we managed him last year, obviously he had a few weaknesses, so you have to manage that. The thing is, he still has a big impact on the team whether he’s on the field or not. But this year I want to keep him on the field as much as I can.” Jayawardene said.
The biggest reason for this change? Rohit’s improved fitness. According to the MI camp, the veteran opener has done some serious work in the off-season and looks sharper than ever.
“He’s done a lot of work behind the scenes. He’s done a great job in the last week. He joined us on the first day of our training camp. He looked very good in the nets. It’s also a newer version of Rohit – better and more committed. So I’m looking forward to him taking us from the top.” Jayawardene added.
For MI, this is more than just a tactical adjustment – it’s bringing one of their most experienced players back to the heart of the action as they chase another IPL title.
Selection headaches for MI as comprehensive depth makes decisions difficult
While the intention to keep Rohit on the field is clear, this plan is not easy to execute. Mumbai Indians have fielded a squad full of all-rounders – players who can contribute with both bat and ball, creating a unique selection puzzle for the coaching staff.
Jayawardene has openly admitted that balancing the team composition while keeping Rohit in the XI consistently may require some tough decisions.
“When we rotate the bowlers or use a batsman – that’s when the impact happens, the timing and all that – if other players need to be on the field … because if you look at it, most of our guys are all-rounders and they bowl as well. So if the captain needs that option in the field, I have to look at it and discuss it depending on the position of the opponent.” Jayawardene explained.
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The situation becomes even more interesting with players like Tilak Varma stepping up as additional bowling options, further strengthening MI’s agility while also making selection calls more difficult.
“And (Impact Player) has put his hand up and said ‘I’m ready’ because he’s been bowling too, so I can’t take him out. The two guys who are not all-rounders at the moment are Rohit and Surya, so that leaves me in the decision-making process. We’ll see how it goes.” he added with a smile.
Despite these challenges, Rohit’s presence remains crucial. In IPL 2025, he scored 418 runs in 15 innings to become MI’s second highest run-scorer. More importantly, his experience and leadership are invaluable to a team aiming to return to the top.
Preparing to launch a campaign against MI Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) All eyes will be on how this ‘new version’ of Rohit Sharma will fit into the XI at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. One thing is for sure – he won’t be going into bat again; he will be right in the thick of the action.
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