Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has urged Mumbai Indians to make full use of Rohit Sharma on the field, instead of restricting him to the Impact Player role. Rohit, who captained MI to five Indian Premier League titles, was largely deployed as an Impact Player last season. This meant his involvement was limited to batting, and according to Kaif, the team missed out on the leadership presence of their seasoned campaigner. Despite the curtailed role, Rohit still managed a solid campaign with 418 runs from 15 matches, averaging 29.86 at a strike rate of 149.29.
The franchise had handed over captaincy duties to Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2024. While that season ended in disappointment with MI finishing last, the team bounced back strongly in 2025, progressing to Qualifier 2. Kaif believes Rohit’s reduced role last year was a mistake, especially in high-pressure moments. He pointed to the Qualifier 2 clash against Punjab Kings, where MI fell short despite a match-winning innings from Shreyas Iyer. In that situation, Kaif felt Hardik could have benefited from Rohit’s on-field guidance.
Mohammad Kaif post
In a post shared on X, Kaif stressed that MI should take advantage of a fitter and leaner Rohit, insisting that the veteran cannot be limited to being just an Impact Player. He highlighted that Rohit’s presence during crucial phases would not only support Hardik’s captaincy but also positively influence his own batting rhythm. “Mumbai Indians should fully utilise the fitter and leaner Rohit Sharma. He can’t be just an impact player, MI will need him in crunch situations. Also his inputs to captain Hardik Pandya will be precious. Last year in Qualifier 2 against Kings XI, when Shreyas Iyer was hitting, Hardik needed Rohit next to him. Full involvement in game will help Rohit the batter too,” Kaif wrote. Mumbai Indians began their IPL 2026 campaign with a home fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
