‘Very fit’: Rohit Sharma gets Mumbai Indians head coach position ahead of IPL 2026 | cricket news
Mumbai: Like Mumbai Indians head coach, Mahela Jayawardene Very happy to enter IPL 2026 starting from 28th March. Four MI players-India’s T20 captains Suryakumar Yadavpace leader Jasprit Bumrahcaptain hardik pandya And batsman Tilak Verma played a key role in India’s 2026 T20 World Cup victory.“Our boys will always inspire cricketers. And I am very proud of players like Rohit, Hardik, Surya, Tilak, Jassi, Booms. It is an amazing group of players, and we are privileged to have them at Mumbai Indians,” Mahela said during the MI Junior season finale at the MIG Cricket Club Ground on Tuesday.
“I think in the World Cup, everyone has to raise their hand because it is a tough tournament. I mean, every game was tough. So, there were different players who raised their hand and performed. And that’s why you win the World Cup because everyone is in form. Obviously, in the end, they performed really well. I am happy that we have four guys from Mumbai (Indians) playing in the T20 World Cup (for India). So we are very excited about it.” Thrilled,” he said. Added.‘Extended break given to T20 World Cup winners’The MI head coach revealed that the franchise has given an “extended break” to four of its World Cup-winning players, and the quartet are set to join the camp next week.“Every year, our target is to get there (win the IPL trophy). But I know it’s a long season. So the pre-season will start the same way we usually start, working hard, getting new boys into the setup. And with our (T20) World Cup guys, we’ve given them a bit of an extended break so that they join us next weekend. The overseas guys also got home and then they’ll join us. But before the first game they should have a good week with us.” Will get training,” Mahela said.England all-rounder Will Jacks also impressed in the T20 World Cup, while the presence of players like Sherfane Rutherford, Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock adds depth to the squad.“Absolutely,” he said, “but I’d rather have that headache than not having a headache. Not just Jackie, but (there’s) Sherfane, Ryan (Rickelton), Quinny (Quinton de Kock). Everyone has also forgotten Santner, who is the New Zealand captain. So I think it’s a great group that we’ve put together. We did all that before the T20 World Cup.“So I’m happy to have them all. It’s going to be a healthy headache for me. But everyone knows how we work in the camp. So, at the right time, we will take decisions. It will be tough decisions, but we will make sure the best decisions are being taken.”Suryakumar’s support, Bumrah’s praiseDespite some criticism of Suryakumar’s form, Jayawardene strongly supported him. He said, “I think Sky is not too worried about it (his form). He is a class operator. He is always going to get there. When it matters he has contributed. Yes, consistency is something he would like to improve on.”“I think the way he led the (Indian) team and put everything together… he had to take some tough decisions during the season. And in the (T20) World Cup, he did that. Hats off to him. I am sure he will get a good break and will join the camp with a smiling face.About Bumrah, he said, “I think Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) is always a special, special player. And it’s just his work ethic and the way he thinks about the game that matters too. I think the way he performed in the crucial moments for India in the (T20) World Cup was something special.”Rohit’s role and Sri Lanka’s campaignJayawardene indicated that Rohit Sharma Praising his superior fitness, he cannot be used solely as an impact player.“He hasn’t done that, but I think he has done a lot of work behind the scenes. He did a lot of skill work last week. He joined us on the very first day for our training camp. He looked good in the nets, which is great. (We are seeing) a new version of Rohit too… very fit, very committed. So (we are) expecting him to lead us from the top.”On Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup performance, Jayawardene said, “I think Sri Lanka played some really good cricket. They had some tough games that they missed. I mean, it’s a World Cup. I think every match is important. It could have gone either way.”
