‘Old man’ Rohit Sharma earned head coach Mahela Jayawardene’s trust after the 39-year-old batted with the fluency of a 29-year-old in his comeback match of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. Rohit, returning from a hamstring injury, scored 84 off 44 balls, powering MI’s successful chase of 229 and ending the franchise’s winless streak. He was unfortunate to miss out on what would have been his third IPL century, but his knock was worth its weight in gold.
After the match, Jayawardene spoke about Rohit, shedding light on his road to recovery. As MI owner Nita Ambani presented the Maverick Award to him, Jayawardene praised Rohit for his commitment. As it turns out, Rohit was eager to return to action early, but the physios and management chose to give him more time, a decision that clearly paid off.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma’s masterful return speaks of hunger, hurt and a refusal to fade into the sunset
“Before he says a few words, it was a brilliant effort from him. He worked hard to get where he was. He was desperate to play, but we were patient with the old man, this time around. Usually, he makes a comeback in a week’s time, but we gave him an extra week to do what he needed to do,” he said inside the dressing room after MI’s six-wicket win.
What Rohit’s comeback means
This was Rohit’s first outing in almost a month. Prior to this, he last played on April 12 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, when he retired hurt on 19. The fact that Rohit showed no rust and slipped back into his groove immediately bodes well for his fitness and his chances for next year’s World Cup. He has put in a tremendous amount of hard work to lose close to 15 kilos, and it’s evident in his batting. Provided he remains injury-free, which he should given he is now playing only one format for India, the 2027 World Cup in South Africa looks a strong possibility.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma’s ‘greatness’ acknowledged as Rickelton bows to ex-skipper after MI break losing run
How he fares in MI’s remaining games will offer deeper insight. More than the runs, it is how his body holds up that will capture attention. India have a busier ODI calendar this year compared to last, and with challenging tours of England and New Zealand lined up, Rohit knows the road ahead won’t be easy. If he makes the cut for the World Cup, he would be 40-plus, the oldest Indian to feature in the 50-over showpiece.
So far, so good, but at this stage, it is not enough for Rohit. The road ahead needs to bring more hits than misses.
