NewKerala.com

Rohit Sharma Begins IPL 2026 Prep for Mumbai Indians After Captaincy Shift

Rohit Sharma has commenced early training with the Mumbai Indians squad for the IPL 2026 season. The veteran opener, who joined MI in 2011, is the franchise's most successful captain with five titles. He was replaced as captain by Hardik Pandya ahead of the 2024 season. The team's pre-season camp is being led by head coach Mahela Jayawardene and his support staff.

Key Points: Rohit Sharma Starts Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 Training

  • Early training for IPL 2026
  • Six-time IPL champion
  • MI's all-time top scorer
  • Replaced as captain in 2024
  • Pre-season led by Mahela Jayawardene
2 min read

Mumbai Indians star Rohit Sharma begins IPL 2026 preparations

Rohit Sharma begins pre-season for IPL 2026 with Mumbai Indians. The veteran, a 6-time IPL champion, is the franchise's top scorer.

Mumbai Indians star Rohit Sharma begins IPL 2026 preparations
"Sharma has won six IPL titles... making him the joint most successful captain in the tournament's history. - Report"

Mumbai, March 17

Star India batter Rohit Sharma has hit the ground running ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 edition. The Mumbai Indians batter has joined the five-time champions' squad and has started practising.

In a video posted by Rohit Sharma on Instagram, the 38-year-old batter can be seen practising his trademark big shots in a Mumbai Indians training jersey.

Sharma has won six IPL titles, including one with Deccan Chargers and five as captain of the Mumbai-based franchise, making him the joint most successful captain in the tournament's history.

The veteran opener joined Mumbai in 2011 and became captain in 2013. Sharma then took MI to their maiden IPL title in his first season as captain and went on to lead MI for 11 years before he was replaced by star all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the 2024 season.

Rohit is also MI's top scorer and one of only four batters with more than 6000 runs in the IPL. Sharma's best IPL season with the bat was in 2013, when he scored 538 runs in MI's title-winning campaign.

In 2015, Rohit was the Player of the Final as Mumbai beat Chennai Super Kings to win their second IPL title. MI went on to win the IPL in 2017, 2019 and 2020 under Rohit's leadership.

On Monday, MI officially commenced pre-season training, marking the first session of the upcoming 2026 campaign.

Head coach Mahela Jayawardene led the session on the ground, joined by bowling coaches Paras Mhambrey and Lasith Malinga, fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, and the full strength and conditioning and physiotherapy support teams, according to a release.

Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2026 season:

Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickleton, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, Shardul Thakur, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Mohammad Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan, it's great to see a legend like Rohit still so motivated. His legacy is secure, but scoring runs in 2026 would be the perfect cherry on top. The squad looks strong on paper, but the Pandya-Sharma dynamic will be the real story to watch.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, I think the focus should be on building for the future. Rohit is a legend, but at 38, how many seasons does he have left? MI needs to ensure a smooth transition. His experience is invaluable, but we must also groom the next generation of stars like Tilak Varma.
P
Priya S
Seeing him practice gives me so many memories! From 2013 to 2020, what a captaincy era. Wishing him all the best. Just want to see him play freely and enjoy his cricket now. The pressure of captaincy is off, maybe we'll see the vintage Rohit pull shots again! 🤞
R
Rohit P
The squad is looking absolutely deadly on paper! Bumrah, Boult, Hardik, Sky, and the Hitman. If they click, no one can stop them. But IPL is played on the field, not on paper. Need to see how the new coach and support staff gel with the team. Jayawardene-Malinga combo is exciting!
K
Karthik V
Starting preparations two years in advance? That's the professionalism of a champion. Other franchises should take note. This is why MI is the most successful team. It's not just about talent, it's about planning and process. 🔥

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50