3 min readUpdated: Mar 17, 2026 08:48 PM IST Will Mumbai Indians use Rohit Sharma in the specialist batter-cum Impact substitute option in the 2026 IPL? Or will a fitter and slimmer version of their former captain prompt the five-time champions to alter their plans this season? As Rohit linked up with the MI squad as they hit the ground running on preparations on Tuesday, head coach Mahela Jayawardene on the potential changes in the way they will use their most successful player this time. Mumbai have not been in an IPL final for five years and captain Hardik Pandya’s takeover from Rohit hasn’t yet realised a return to the summit clash across the last two seasons. In 2025, Rohit was majorly used as an Impact Player, featuring only during MI’s batting innings. The 2024 T20 World Cup-winning captain had a middling season, scoring 418 runs in 15 innings with an average under 30. Speaking at an MI Junioe 2026 event on Tuesday, Jayawardene revealed that fitness concerns meant that Rohit had to be used …