New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) The head coach of the Mumbai Indians, Mahela Jayawardene, praised Rohit Sharma's thorough preparation for their upcoming match against the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. He emphasized that the experienced right-handed batsman had a definitive plan and vision to prepare himself for the tournament, despite the lack of competitive cricket in recent times.

In MI's opening match against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit showcased his exceptional form by scoring a stunning 78 runs off just 38 balls, proving to the cricketing community that he retains the skill and mindset necessary to excel in high-pressure tournaments.

During MI's practice session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, a fit and focused Rohit spent over an hour honing his skills against bowlers. Jayawardene remarked, "I think it's important to give him credit; he had a clear plan and vision. Some of our players involved in this training were eager to improve, and Rohit understood what he needed to achieve in terms of fitness."

He continued, "Despite not having played much competitive cricket, Rohit committed significant time to skill development during the off-season. When he joined us for the camp's first day, we discussed our strategy moving forward. We engaged in numerous practice matches and simulations, and he participated in all of them," Jayawardene stated at the pre-match press conference on Friday.

Jayawardene noted that Rohit’s participation in these practice matches and simulations during MI’s camp was crucial in helping him regain his rhythm, allowing him to perform at his best during their opening game, which MI won by six wickets.

"For a player with such extensive experience, it's instinctive; it’s muscle memory. He knows how to approach situations on the field. Even without recent competitive play, he had a strong sense of what needed to be done," he added.

“When I observed him batting in the nets, it was clear he was in excellent shape. His hand speed was impressive, and it reflected his approach. It was a great start for him in the first game, and I hope he maintains this form. The tournament can be challenging, but he remains focused and relaxed. His positive contributions during the camps have been invaluable for us,” Jayawardene concluded.

He also highlighted that Rohit’s preparation was notably different from that of other regular Indian players such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Yadav, who have been actively participating in international cricket, particularly during the recent T20 World Cup victory.

“Players like Jasprit, Hardik, and Sky are regularly involved with the Indian team, playing white-ball cricket and being monitored by the NCA (BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru). They provide us with updates ahead of the IPL. Rohit's situation was unique because he had limited playtime. He participated in matches back in November and again in January against New Zealand, and then he discussed his fitness goals with the coaching staff. He dedicated those two months to improving his fitness before working on his skills,” Jayawardene explained.

“Being based in Mumbai, he had access to our training facilities. He utilized them whenever possible for practice. Rohit is at a level where he understands his requirements, and as a franchise, we don’t intervene too much since most players are with their national teams throughout the year. We focus on those who aren't part of national setups or state teams, organizing camps for skill development as needed,” he concluded.