2 min readMar 23, 2026 01:47 PM IST
A fresh and fitter Rohit Sharma will finally make amends and be primed to produce the best version of his T20 self in the IPL 2026 season, reckoned former India off-spinner R Ashwin.
While acknowledging that Rohit has not lived up to his exalted status for the Mumbai Indians with the bat for an extensive period, Ashwin backed the former India captain to turn his fortunes around this season. Having given up Test and T20I cricket, Ashwin feels that a better mindspace will also assist Rohit, who remains as MI’s most successful batter in IPL history.
“I personally think this is going to be a season where Rohit will really take it on. He doesn’t need to play cricket for the whole season. He is getting enough breaks. His mind is fresh. He is physically in a good space. He looks really fit. And I think this could well be a season where Rohit Sharma is going to bring back his T20 batting in the IPL,” Ashwin remarked on his YouTube channel.
“Let’s not forget, Rohit Sharma, the IPL batsman, hasn’t been quite present in the last few years. But this could be a great opportunity for him to really restore that. And I, personally, think he can go on to enjoy his season and do some incredible things for Mumbai Indians this season,” Ashwin added.
Rohit aggregated 835 runs in the last two seasons with a strike rate clocking near-150, making them two of his better seasons in over a decade with the franchise. The five-time IPL-winning captain has only scored over 500 runs in a season once, back in 2013 during his maiden season as captain of the franchise. Rohit, however, remains as one of the IPL’s most successful run-getters, amassing 7046 runs in 272 matches with 49 fifty-plus scores.
Soon-to-be 39, Rohit last featured in the ODI series against New Zealand, scoring only 61 runs in three innings.
