Rohit Sharma Poised for Strong Start in IPL 2026 Against KKR
Rohit Sharma's Anticipated Performance
As the IPL 2026 season approaches, former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth predicts a stellar performance from Rohit Sharma, the opener for the Mumbai Indians. He believes that Rohit will once again shine against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Srikkanth highlighted Rohit's historical success against KKR, noting that he has amassed over 1,000 runs against them, making him a formidable opponent.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth remarked, “KKR used to be like halwa for Rohit Sharma a few years back. He is going to smash their bowling like eating halwa tomorrow. KKR is his badam halwa team. Once KKR comes, Rohit is in a comfort zone.” This statement underscores the high expectations surrounding Rohit's performance as MI gears up for their opening match against KKR on March 29.
In this matchup, KKR will rely on Sunil Narine, who has historically performed well against Rohit, to contain him. Meanwhile, MI is counting on Rohit to provide a strong start. Throughout his IPL career, Rohit has scored 1,083 runs against KKR at an impressive strike rate of 127.86, which includes six half-centuries and one century, with his highest score being an unbeaten 109 at Eden Gardens.
However, it's worth noting that Rohit's performance against KKR has seen a decline in recent years, with his last half-century against them recorded in 2020. At Wankhede Stadium, he has accumulated 238 runs against KKR at a strike rate of 120.81. Despite this, Rohit has shown significant improvement as a T20 batsman over the last two seasons, raising his strike rate to 150 in 2024 and 149.28 in 2025, a shift from his previous average of around 133 from 2016 to 2023.
MI's head coach, Mahela Jayawardene, has also noted this transformation in Rohit's approach. He stated, “Yeah, I think that is true. But there’s a transformation in Rohit. We’ve seen the commitment on his part. He’s been training his skills as well for a longer period of time — that is what is in his control, what he can do.” Jayawardene expressed satisfaction with Rohit's performance in practice games, highlighting his hand speed and technique, along with his extensive experience in the IPL.
As the match approaches, MI hopes Rohit will continue to deliver the explosive starts he is known for. Conversely, KKR will depend on Sunil Narine, who has a strong record against Rohit, having dismissed him 10 times in 28 innings while limiting his strike rate to 106.77. The upcoming clash at Wankhede promises to be thrilling, given Rohit's impressive track record and Narine's competitive edge.