Mumbai Indians Star Rohit Sharma Will Enjoy Superb Start In IPL 2026; Former Selector Makes Bold Claim

Mumbai: Former Indian selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has predicted a powerful start for Rohit Sharma in IPL 2026. He believes that the Mumbai Indians opener could once again play a monumental innings against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium. Srikkanth noted that Rohit's record against KKR has always been exceptional, and this factor could work in his favor in this upcoming clash.

Rohit Sharma's record against KKR stands as one of the most successful individual matchups in the history of the IPL. The Mumbai Indians batsman has amassed over 1,000 runs against the Kolkata franchise. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth made a bold statement regarding Rohit.

What did Krishnamachari Srikkanth say?

Srikkanth remarked, "Until a few years ago, KKR was like *halwa* (a sweet delicacy) for Rohit Sharma. He would devour their bowling attack just like *halwa*. KKR is his 'Badam Halwa' team. The moment KKR stands across the field, Rohit immediately settles into his comfort zone."

On March 29, Mumbai Indians will face KKR at the Wankhede Stadium, and Rohit Sharma will once again be at the very center of the team's strategies for this encounter. Mumbai will be looking to him to provide a blistering start, while KKR will be hoping that Sunil Narine—leveraging his own impressive record—can dismiss Rohit early in the innings.

How ​​has Rohit Sharma fared against KKR?

Rohit Sharma's statistics clearly illustrate why such high expectations are being placed upon him. Throughout his IPL career, the Mumbai Indians opener has scored 1,083 runs against KKR at a strike rate of 127.86. He belongs to an elite group of players who have scored over 1,000 runs against a single franchise. His record against KKR includes six half-centuries and one century. His highest score remains an unbeaten 109, which he achieved at Eden Gardens.

However, if one examines his recent form, Rohit's performance has seen a slight dip. He scored his last half-century against KKR back in 2020. At Wankhede Stadium, he has scored 238 runs against Kolkata at a strike rate of 120.81.