Aakash Chopra, Harbhajan Want Rohit Sharma to Play Full Matches in IPL 2026

Harbhajan Singh and Aakash Chopra have urged the Mumbai Indians to stop using Rohit Sharma as an impact substitute in IPL 2026.

Mumbai Indians have received advice regarding Rohit Sharma’s role in IPL 2026. The franchise has used the 38-year-old mainly as an impact substitute in the past two seasons. He often came in only to bat while staying in the dugout during the fielding innings.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the team should change that approach. He suggested Rohit should participate throughout the match. His experience as a five-time title-winning captain could help the side during key moments.

“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. 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,” Harbhajan told JioHotstar.

Rohit recently improved his fitness and reduced weight. The opener also delivered strong performances in ODI series against Australia and South Africa. Former India batter Aakash Chopra also supported a full-time role for Rohit. He argued that opening batters perform better when involved for the entire 40 overs rather than entering only as substitutes.

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“Logically, if you are fit, you should play the whole game and not be substituted. Especially when you are batting second, you shouldn’t come in as an impact player. An opener is not used to watching 20 overs of the match from the dugout. Opening batters are used to staying on the field, preparing accordingly and then hitting the ground running,” Chopra said.

“Rohit Sharma is the fittest, meanest and maybe the strongest at this point in time, so he should be on the ground for all 40 overs. That’s actually how the Mumbai Indians will be able to make full use of Rohit Sharma,” he concluded.