Rohit Sharma may have one of the most illustrious IPL records as a captain, but there is one milestone that still eludes him, and that is scoring 600 runs in a single season. As the countdown to IPL 2026 begins, all eyes are on whether Rohit Sharma will finally be able to break that barrier.
Despite leading Mumbai Indians (MI) to five IPL titles and being one of the most celebrated players in the league, the Hitman has never been able to cross the 600-run mark in any season.
Will Rohit Sharma finally be able to cross the 600-run mark in IPL 2026?
His best performance came in 2013, when he scored 538 runs in 19 matches and this was the only time he crossed the 500-run mark in the lucrative T20 league.
Last season, the former Indian captain showed glimpses of his old form, scoring 418 runs at a brisk strike rate of 149.29, which included four half-centuries.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir finally reveals why Jasprit Bumrah bowls 3 overs in powerplay in T20Is?
However, former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif feels that a player of Rohit’s caliber should have scored at least 600 runs. Kaif believes that the upcoming IPL could be the season for Rohit to break this illusion.
Over the years, Rohit has earned a lot of respect for his captaincy and match-winning innings, but Kaif feels that his batting numbers don’t match up to players like Virat Kohli, who often scores 600 or more in a season.
Mohammad Kaif challenges Rohit Sharma to cross the 600-run mark in IPL 2026
Mohammad Kaif said on YouTube channel, “We talk about Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, but Rohit Sharma has not scored 700-800 runs in a season. In the IPL, he gets points for captaincy and experience, but when you compare him with Virat Kohli or any other batsman, he does not score 600-700 runs. He scores runs in one or two matches and becomes man of the match.”
Interestingly, Rohit has been working hard on his fitness recently, losing weight and looking lean and sharp. Considering the Hitman’s recent transformation, Kaif believes he will be hungry to cross the 600-run mark in the next IPL season.
Also read: Personal pride can’t hide series defeat: Gautam Gambhir hits out at Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma
Kaif said, “So, the biggest test for him this time is to cross the 500-run or 600-run mark. Sai Sudarshan scored 750 runs this time. So, Rohit Sharma will also want to score around 600 runs because he has slimmed down and is in good form. He will be very hungry for runs in this IPL.”
Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness will decide Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 campaign
Additionally, Kaif cautioned Mumbai Indians on Jasprit Bumrah’s availability in IPL 2026. MI struggled in the early part of IPL 2025 when Bumrah got injured, and lost several matches. After his return, the team showed his tremendous influence and won several consecutive games.
Kaif believes that a fully fit Bumrah will be crucial for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. He told, “The biggest test for MI, which was also the case last season, was how many matches Bumrah can play. If Jasprit Bumrah is fit to play all the matches, then that is a different thing.
He was not in the initial matches, where Mumbai suffered huge defeats. Bumrah’s absence was clearly visible. As soon as he came back, he won six or seven matches in a row. Bumrah is the backbone of Mumbai Indians.”