Harbhajan Singh backs Rohit Sharma (Source: @Cricsam01/x.com)
The unreal T20 thrills are not going to leave the Indian fans as the IPL 2026 is returning in just a few days. After struggling in the past few seasons, the five-time champions Mumbai Indians, are now aiming for a record-breaking campaign.
Despite leading the franchise to their trophy triumphs, former MI skipper Rohit Sharma was mostly used as the impact player last year. As the upcoming season commences soon, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh urged the team to utilize the Hitman in a bigger role rather than limiting him to the Impact Player position.
Harbhajan Singh calls for a bigger role for Rohit Sharma in MI
Since the beginning, the Mumbai Indians have emerged as one of the most formidable forces of the IPL world, and Rohit Sharma has remained one of the biggest reasons behind this. While showcasing his batting brilliance, he led the franchise to five IPL trophies. However, things took an unexpected turn when Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy
Fans eagerly waited to see Rohit Sharma smash bowlers with his trademark elegance, but the Mumbai Indians management mostly used him as an Impact Player last season. Even though he shone in every given opportunity, the cricket world missed his brilliance on the field.
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As the Indian Premier League 2026 approaches, Hardik Pandya and the Mumbai Indians are aiming for a strong comeback after a few difficult seasons. Amidst this, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh made a bold statement. Speaking on JioStar, he requested the franchise to use the Hitman in a larger role rather than limiting him to just an Impact Player.
“Rohit Sharma has been used as the 12th man who just bats, but I feel that the kind of leader he has been, a player like him should be on the field,” he said.
Hardik Pandya needs Rohit Sharma's magic to revive MI
Soon after Rohit Sharma took charge of MI in 2013, he led the team to their first IPL trophy that season. After that, there was no lookback as the franchise enjoyed immense success under his leadership. However, the cricketing world witnessed a shocking dip in IPL 2024 when MI finished at the bottom of the points table.
After Hardik Pandya took the Mumbai Indians’ charge in 2024, he was seen struggling at times in difficult situations. As the team eyes a much-needed turnaround, Harbhajan Singh believed Pandya would need the cricketing brilliance of Rohit Sharma to spark a strong revival
“In tough matches, when you need to take certain calls, when a captain sometimes needs a shoulder to lean on, Rohit Sharma can do that for Hardik Pandya,” he added.
The wait builds for Rohit Sharma to light up the field again
After retiring from the T20Is, the Hitman came back into the shortest format of the game in IPL 2025. Despite mostly playing as an impact player, the Hitman delivered with the bat. With a cautious start, he scored 418 runs in 15 matches with four half-centuries. Throughout the season, fans enjoyed some classic Hitman moments.
Being away from Test and T20I cricket, Rohit Sharma is set to return to the field in the upcoming IPL 2026. Over the years, he has been one of the greatest strengths of MI’s lineup and delivered in every crunch moments, fans are eagerly waiting to see him light up the field again.
As the IPL 2026 is all set to commence on March 28, the Mumbai Indians are all set to face the Kolkata Knight Riders in their inaugural match on March 29. Since the beginning, both sides shared a fiery rivalry, and fans are ready to witness another fresh edition of it.
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