Out of nowhere, Mumbai Indians’ coach Mahela Jayawardene touched upon bringing back Rohit Sharma as an impact substitute in IPL 2026. Critics came down hard on the five-time title holders for trying that move last year. Still, the coaching staff saw it differently – managing minutes mattered because minor injuries kept bothering the veteran during matches. So rest wasn’t just preference; it became part of the plan.
Still, it’s clear Rohit isn’t being used as an impact substitute this season – he’ll stay longer in matches now. Oddly enough, at 38, he appears sharp and strong, training hard ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. “Ro… how we handled him last year… There were small injuries, so we had to balance his workload.”.
” The thing is he’s still making a huge impact on the team whether he’s on the field or not. But, definitely, this year, I want to keep him more on the field as much as I can. But the thing is when we are rotating the bowlers or the impact player, at which point that impact player is coming and if all other players need to be on the field at that time [needs to be considered],” Jayawardene said in a media interaction.
Might see Rohit step in later, says Jayawardene, depending on how games unfold
Still, Mahela Jaywardene suggested Rohit Sharma could come into play late in certain IPL 2026 games. That move may happen because he and Suryakumar Yadav stand out – neither bowls, unlike nearly everyone else on the squad. Most teammates contribute with both bat and ball. Because of that balance, the skipper might want extra bowling strength mid-game. This kind of choice would depend on who they face. Talking through options becomes necessary when planning around opponents.
“The 2 guys who are not all-rounders at the moment are Rohit and Surya (Suryakumar Yadav). So, can you help me with that decision-making process?” Jayawardene concluded.
