Former Indian batter Subramanian Badrinath has heaped praise on Rohit Sharma ahead of IPL 2026 and reckons the Indian veteran is still good enough to be part of India’s T20I team. Rohit had announced his T20I retirement after leading India to the 2024 T20 World Cup glory in the Caribbean.

Rohit scored 418 runs in IPL 2025 at an average of 29.85 and a strike rate of almost 150. The MI opener has amassed 7046 runs in 272 IPL matches at an average of 29.73 and a strike rate of 132.10, including 47 fifties and two centuries. 

Badrinath said on his YouTube Channel, “He’s still good enough to be part of the Indian T20I side. His opening partnership with Quinton de Kock is scary. How did the other owners allow MI to buy De Kock? It’s an amazing buy for MI.”

The former CSK batter backed Tilak Varma to bat at one drop for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. The left-hander had done a good job for India in the T20I showpiece while batting at number five and six.

“Tilak did very well for India at No.5 and 6 in the T20 World Cup. But if he continues there, who’ll come at No.3 for MI? It probably means Suryakumar Yadav has to bat at No.3, which leaves a question mark for No.4. That’s why I’ll keep Tilak Varma at No.3. Down the order, MI have plenty of options with Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, and Will Jacks,” said Badrinath (via the aforementioned source).

“The Indian team made Tilak Varma bat lower down the order because of Rinku Singh’s absence. But for MI, I’ll have Tilak at 3, Surya at 4, and Hardik at 6. And I won’t disturb this order.”

Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on 29th March.