There have been rumours about former Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Rohit Sharma moving to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following Abhishek Nayar’s appointment as the new head coach.
However, the right-handed batter is unlikely to leave the Mumbai Indians before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Rohit was last seen in action during the three-match ODI series in Australia, where the visiting team lost 1-2. The 38-year-old won the Player of the Series award for his batting performances. He also earned the Player of the Match award for his century in the third and final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Rohit Sharma Unlikely to Leave Mumbai Indians Before IPL 2026 Season
On his YouTube channel, RepSports journalist Rohit Juglan confirmed that Rohit Sharma, along with Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, will remain with the Mumbai Indians. He dismissed any speculation about their possible transfers.
“Rohit is not leaving the Mumbai Indians at this point. Neither Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, nor Jasprit Bumrah is going anywhere. You can note that down,” Juglan stated.
“As of now, all four players will continue with the Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, Abhishek Nair has joined Kolkata Knight Riders, and he and Rohit Sharma have been training together extensively,” he added.
KKR’s Cryptic Post on X Sparks Speculation Over Rohit Sharma’s Future
The speculation around Rohit’s IPL future began after Kolkata Knight Riders posted a congratulatory tweet celebrating his rise to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings.
KKR wrote, “Top of the world and well deserved. Congratulations, Rohit .” When a fan humorously asked if this meant Rohit was joining KKR, the franchise replied, “CONFIRM World No.1 Men’s ODI Batter.”
Social media quickly lit up with mixed reactions, with some calling it light-hearted banter, while others suspected it was a subtle hint from KKR’s famously cryptic social media team.
With the IPL 2026 mega auction only a month away, the post has sparked curiosity among fans about whether KKR’s message was simply a congratulation or a teaser of a potential blockbuster signing involving Rohit.
Sharma’s Performances for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025
Rohit Sharma had a decent campaign with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 season. The Mumbai-based team lost four of their first five matches but bounced back with six consecutive wins to secure a playoff berth, finishing fourth in the league stage.
Rohit played a crucial role in the team’s comeback, amassing 418 runs in 15 games at an average of 29.85 and a strike rate of 149.28, including four fifties. He scored 81 runs against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Eliminator.
MI defeated GT in that match but were knocked out by Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2. Rohit retired from T20Is following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. He also retired from Tests ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England.