Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has predicted that veteran Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Rohit Sharma will regain his lost glory in the IPL in the upcoming season. Admitting that Rohit Sharma has disappointed with the bat in recent editions of the T20 league, Ashwin asserted that Rohit looked fit and fresh to rediscover his mojo with the bat in the IPL.
Rohit had a middling IPL 2025 season for the record. In 15 matches, he scored 418 runs at ana average of 29.85 and a strike-rate of 149.28, with four half-centuries. Before that, he scored 417 runs in 14 games in the 2024 edition. The former India captain was last seen in action during the ODI series against New Zealand in January. In the three innings there, he had scores of 26, 24 and 11.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs Rohit Sharma to shine
During a discussion on his You Tube show Ash ki baat, Ashwin backed Rohit to overcome his low run of scores in IPL 2026. He praised the veteran opening batter and predicted: “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.”Â
Ravichandran Ashwin added: “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.”Â
Rohit has the experience of 272 IPL games in which he has scored 7,046 runs at an average of 29.73 and a strike rate of 132.09 with two hundreds and 47 fifties.
Ravichandran Ashwin backs Mumbai Indians to finish in top 2
MI have not won the IPL since 2020. However. Ravichandran Ashwin feels that if the franchise does not reach the top two in the upcoming season, it will be nothing short of a huge upset. According to the former India spinner, MI have a terrific squad to choose from, and can only get it wrong if they miscalculate their playing XI or if some of the other teams play extraordinary cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin said: “If Mumbai don’t make the top 2 this year, it will be a huge upset for me. They have put a gun side together. Mumbai Indians’ worst performance will be qualifying in the top four. The best performance will be qualifying in the top two. Actually, I will rate the best performance if they come first, not even top two.”Â
Ravichandran Ashwin concluded: “There will be stiff competition from RCB, but I think Mumbai Indians will be in the top two this time. If Mumbai Indians are not there in the top two, it means they have chosen bad combinations or they have complicated it for themselves or some other teams have played splendid cricket.”Â
For the record, MI retained 20 players ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, including seven overseas cricketers. At the mini auction, they purchased five players. Quinton de Kock was their biggest buy, purchased at a base price of Rs. 1 crore.
It remains to be seen how MI fares this season. But the squad looks solid and decent on paper with all bases covered. They tend to start slowly and lose their first few games especially their opener. This time, they will face KKR in Mumbai on 29th March. Can MI get a win in their first game for the first time since 2012? Only time will tell.
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