Star batter Rohit Sharma has stunned the cricketing fraternity with a mindboggling physical transformation since late 2025. He lost 11 kilos before making a return to international cricket against Australia in October 2025, where he was also the highest run-getter of the three-match series. He continued his form, and is now all set to feature in the Indian Premier League’s upcoming 2026 season for the Mumbai Indians.
Since the last few seasons, MI have used Rohit as an impact substitute, utilising only his batting prowess under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. However, former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that someone like the Nagpur-born should not remain confined to being used as a substitute, as his cricketing acumen can help the Mumbai-based franchise win matches out of tough situations when fielding.
“Logically, if you are fit, you should play the whole game and not be substituted. Especially when you are batting second, you shouldn’t come in as an impact player. An opener is not used to watching 20 overs of the match from the dugout,” Chopra said during an interaction on JioStar’s ‘Game Plan – Know Your Team’.
Opening batters are used to staying on the field, preparing accordingly and then hitting the ground running. Rohit Sharma is the fittest, meanest and maybe the strongest at this point in time, so he should be on the ground for all 40 overs. That’s actually how Mumbai Indians will be able to make full use of Rohit Sharma,” the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Meanwhile, former Mumbai Indians cricketer and legendary off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged Hardik to not substitute Rohit as an Impact Player throughout the 2026 season of the cash-rich tournament. The veteran cricketer believes that Rohit’s leadership abilities can complement Hardik’s captaincy, which can eventually help MI lift their record-breaking sixth title.
“Rohit Sharma has been used as the 12th man who just bats, but I feel that the kind of leader he has been, a player like him should be on the field. In tough matches, when you need to take certain calls, when a captain sometimes needs a shoulder to lean on, Rohit Sharma can do that for Hardik Pandya,” Harbhajan said via JioStar.
The Indian Premier League 2026 is all set to begin on March 28, but MI will open their campaign on the 29th against three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium, their home ground. It will be interesting to see if MI use a “fitter” Rohit as a fielder as well during the upcoming season.
