Rohit delivered an impressive performance, scoring 78 runs to lead MI to a solid victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. He has not been at the helm of MI since 2024.
“He’s liberated himself,” coach Mahela Jayawardene stated after Rohit’s 78 off 38 balls helped Mumbai successfully chase 221, resulting in a six-wicket win in their opening match at home.
“He’s approaching the game with a clearer mind; without the captaincy, there’s less pressure. I experienced something similar towards the end of my career when I transitioned to franchise cricket,” added the former Sri Lanka captain.
“You might practice less, but your muscle memory kicks in, allowing you to play intuitively. Once you’re in that zone, you feel free, which we’ve seen in Rohit over the past couple of years.
“We encourage him to embrace this freedom, and the entire team supports him in this approach, which makes me very pleased.”
Rohit, who last played competitively in India’s home ODI series against New Zealand in January, made his IPL return appearing leaner and in better shape.
He joined the Mumbai camp early, participating in numerous practice matches before achieving his 50th score of over 50 in the IPL on Sunday.
“We conducted several simulations to help him get started, and I was thrilled with how well he was striking the ball… I thought he played exceptionally well,” Jayawardene remarked.
MI will face the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 3.
(With Reuters inputs)
First Published: Mar 30, 2026 9:07 PM IST
