'New role' for Rohit Sharma, reveals head coach

MUMBAI: Former India captain Rohit Sharma is set to take on a new role in his IPL team, Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said that the star will not be used only as an impact player this season. He added that Rohit is expected to be on the field for longer periods. He made this statement at a private event held ahead of the season.

Rohit Sharma, who has stepped away from Test and T20 international formats, now represents India only in One Day Internationals. As a result, he is eager to stay on the field for longer durations. During the 2025 IPL season, the Mumbai Indians primarily used him as an impact player while batting.

During the 2025 season, Rohit faced some fitness issues. His workload had to be managed, which is why he was used as an impact substitute. It was also a period when the team’s captaincy shifted to Hardik Pandya. Jayawardene said he wants Rohit to spend more time on the field this year. He added that Rohit’s presence in the team has a strong impact.