"He doesn't score 600-700 runs like Virat Kohli" - IPL winner's huge statement on Rohit Sharma ahead of auction 2026

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif feels Rohit Sharma will be determined to score over 600 runs in the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). He noted that the veteran opener has not had a big season with the bat like Virat Kohli.

Rohit's best season came in 2013, when he amassed 538 runs across 19 matches for Mumbai Indians (MI). Notably, this is the only edition where the swashbuckling batter amassed more than 500 runs.

Suggesting that Rohit will be hungry for runs in IPL 2026, Kaif said in his latest YouTube video:

"We talk about Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, but Rohit Sharma has not scored 700-800 runs in a season. In the IPL, he gets points for captaincy and experience, but when you compare him with Virat Kohli or some other batter, he doesn't score 600-700 runs. He scores in one or two matches and becomes the Man of the Match.

"So, the biggest test for him this time is to cross the 500-run or 600-run mark. Sai Sudharsan scored 750 runs this time. So, Rohit Sharma would also want to score around 600 runs because he has gotten lean and is in good form. He will be very hungry for runs in this IPL."

Kaif, who was part of Rajasthan Royals' (RR) IPL-winning side in 2008, also highlighted Jasprit Bumrah's importance in MI's lineup. He noted that the Mumbai-based team struggled when the ace speedster was unavailable for the first few games of IPL 2025 due to injury.

Hailing Bumrah as the backbone of MI, the cricketer-turned-commentator remarked:

"The biggest test for Mumbai, which was there last season too, was how many matches Bumrah can play. If Jasprit Bumrah is fit to play all matches, it's a different thing. He was not there for the initial matches, where Mumbai lost a lot. The absence of Bumrah was clearly visible. As soon as he came back, they won six-seven matches in a row. Bumrah is the backbone of Mumbai Indians."

The Hardik Pandya-led side MI qualified for the playoffs by finishing fourth in the points table. However, their campaign ended with a five-wicket defeat to eventual runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2.

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"Mostly speaks in English" - Mohammad Kaif on IPL team co-owner prioritizing communication skills

Mohammad Kaif opined that Yashasvi Jaiswal has fallen down the pecking order in the RR camp due to his weak communication skills. He reckoned that the team management preferred someone like Riyan Parag, as he is a good communicator.

He stated that it was because the franchise's co-owner Manoj Badale is based out of the United Kingdom and mostly communicates in English. Kaif said in the same video:

"Jaiswal is a little behind, possibly because Manoj Badale is UK-based and mostly speaks in English. Jaiswal's English is improving, but Parag has very good communication skills. It allows him to have direct conversations with the CEO and the coach. Sangakkara is likely to be their new coach, so if your coach and boss are not from India, they want to find someone with whom they don't face a problem in communication."

RR had a dismal campaign in IPL 2025. With four wins from 14 games, they finished ninth in the standings.