Mumbai Indians (MI) are preparing for ipl 2026 With an apparent change of plan they plan to use one of their biggest stars – Rohit Sharma. After a season where he was restricted to an impact player role as head coach due to fitness concerns Mahela Jayawardene Now it has become clear that the franchise wants Rohit to be more active on the field this time.
Mumbai Indians ready to move away from impact player strategy
In the last season, Rohit’s role was handled carefully. He was often used as a batsman, stepping in when needed but not always taking the field. Although he still made significant contributions with the bat, his approach was puzzling and many believed that a player of his stature should have a more complete presence in the game. Now, that’s set to change.
“Rohit, the way we managed him last year, obviously he had some flaws too, so you just need to manage him. And the thing is, he is still making a big impact on the team, whether he is on the field or not. But definitely this year I want to keep him on the field as much as possible.” Jayawardene said.
The biggest reason behind this change? Improvement in Rohit’s fitness. According to the MI camp, the experienced opening batsman has done serious work during the off-season and looks sharper than ever.
“He has done a lot of work behind the scenes. He did a lot of skill work last week. He joined us on the first day of our training camp. He looked very good in the nets. This is a new version of Rohit – much more fit and very committed. So, I am expecting him to lead us from the top.” Jayawardene added.
For MI, it’s more than just a tactical change – it’s about getting one of their most experienced players back at the center of the action as they chase another IPL title.
Selection headache for MI as all-round depth complicates decisions
While the intention to keep Rohit on the field is clear, executing that plan isn’t entirely straightforward. Mumbai Indians have fielded a squad full of all-rounders – players who can contribute with both bat and ball – which creates a unique selection conundrum for the coaching staff.
Jayawardene openly admitted that some tough decisions may need to be taken to balance the team combination while keeping Rohit in the eleven consistently.
“When we are rotating bowlers or using impact players – the point at which that impact comes, 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 also bowl. So if the captain needs that option on the field, then it is something I have to look at and discuss depending on the opponent we are playing,” Jayawardene explained.
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The situation becomes even more interesting with players like Tilak Verma coming forward as additional bowling options, further strengthening MI’s flexibility – but also making selection calls difficult.
“And because [the Impact Player] Also bowling, he put his hand up and said, ‘I’m available,’ so I can’t take him out. The two guys who are not all-rounders at the moment are Rohit and Surya, so it depends on the decision-making process. We’ll see how it goes.” He added smiling.
Despite these challenges, Rohit’s presence remains vital. In IPL 2025, he scored 418 runs in 15 innings, and was MI’s second-highest run-scorer. More importantly, his experience and leadership are invaluable to a team aiming to return to the top.
is ready to start its campaign against MI Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) All eyes will be on how this “new version” of Rohit Sharma fits into the XI at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. One thing is certain – he will no longer just come out to bat; He will be right in the whole process of action.
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