Mumbai Indians opening batsman Rohit Sharma has been declared fully fit on May 24, 2026, ahead of the final IPL 2026 league match against Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede Stadium.
Head coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed that the veteran batsman recovered from an earlier hamstring injury.
Despite being limited to eight matches due to injury interruptions this season, Sharma scored 283 runs with an average of 40.42 and a strike rate of 160.70.
His performances included scoring 84 runs off 44 balls against Lucknow Super Giants and 78 runs off 38 deliveries against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Sharma's Vision for Indian Cricket
Speaking at a Mumbai Indians event, Sharma shared his vision for the national team and reflected on recent global tournament appearances across multiple age groups.
"I want India to be the powerhouse of world cricket…that is the bottom line as I want India to be the best and cricket is right up there.
What we have done in the last three years has been superb to watch.
From the 2024 World Cup, Women’s World Cup, U19 World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and another T20 World Cup.
I hope we continue our winning streak," said Rohit Sharma, former Indian captain.
Sharma observed that modern cricket strategies have evolved significantly, noting that traditional benchmarks for competitive totals have shifted as teams alter their batting approaches.
"Now, any score one gets does not seem to be very convincing.
That is the story which tells you how the game has gone about through the years," said Rohit Sharma, former Indian captain.
The veteran opener attributed the ongoing shift in cricket dynamics to the progressive mindset adopted by the current generation of international and league players.
"People have become more fearless, open minded on how they should go about doing things, which is a good sign for the sport, game and league.
The players are not afraid to take a step forward rather than being conservative.
In the coming years too, that is how it will keep going, it will reach greater heights," expressed Rohit Sharma, former Indian captain.
Regarding youth development, Sharma cautioned against subjecting children between six and 18 years old to excessive performance pressures during their early sporting development.
"It depends from age to age. I know there are kids ranging from six years to 18 years.
You do not want to put too much pressure on the kid so early on in their life.
They should just be enjoying the sport, watching and playing with their friends. That is how it all started for me.
The situation will tell you what is important at this point of time. Enjoy the sport that you want to play.
No one can force you to do something," said Rohit Sharma, former Indian captain.
Jayawardene on Team Strategy and Player Management
Addressing tactical selections, head coach Mahela Jayawardene clarified that utilizing Sharma as an Impact Substitute was a strategic choice rather than a medical necessity.
"According to me, according to our medical team, Rohit is 100%. After coming back from the hamstring injury, first game we were a bit cautious.
Now he is playing as an Impact Sub just for the team combination when we are bowling.
He is a team player; he perfectly understands it," said Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians Head Coach.
Jayawardene defended middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who faced scrutiny over consistent contributions during a turbulent tournament run for the franchise.
"Surya is a naturally gifted player. At the moment, it’s a combination of confidence and just going through a patch.
It happens in cricket," said Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians Head Coach.
The head coach explained the collaborative workload management strategy implemented alongside the medical and training departments to facilitate the return of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
"It was a collective conversation with Bumrah and the training staff. It’s been a good conversation.
We all learn from this kind of season.
During these six to eight weeks, he worked hard to get back to where he should be," said Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians Head Coach.
Jayawardene concluded by acknowledging that the management core would evaluate the overall campaign performance after injuries disrupted the team rhythm.
"It’s everyone’s responsibility, we have a core group. This year, injuries have affected us.
We had some really good conversations within the group, we haven’t been able to galvanise.
This is something to reflect on post-season," said Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians Head Coach.
