Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani shared a warm and memorable moment with Rohit Sharma ahead of the franchise’s IPL opener, leaving the veteran all smiles after praising his remarkable fitness transformation.
In a video released by the franchise ahead of their clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, Nita Ambani was visibly surprised by Rohit’s slimmer appearance. “My God, Rohit, I didn’t recognize you! You look like a young lad,” she said with a smile as the former MI captain returned a shy smile.
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The interaction took place during her visit to the Mumbai Indians camp where she also spent time with the players and support staff. One of those lighter moments was when she introduced Kieron Pollard as “Polly Kaka” to a family member, a gesture that quickly gained fans online.
Rohit’s transformation is no accident. After he retired from Test cricket in 2025The 38-year-old has focused heavily on his fitness with the 2027 ODI World Cup as a clear target.
Still chasing the elusive title after India’s heartbreak in the Ahmedabad 2023 final, Rohit seems determined to give himself the best possible chance for a final shot. His recent ODI numbers underline this intent. Last year, he scored 650 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50, with a match-winning knock in the Champions Trophy final.
On his return against Australia, Rohit looked sharper than ever, scoring 202 runs in three matches, including an unbeaten 121 in Sydney, to win the Player of the Series award.
While his international performances have remained strong, Rohit’s IPL returns have declined in recent years, a trend he will be looking to reverse this season.
With 7,046 runs in 272 games, he remains one of the league’s all-time greats. However, consistency was the problem. His last season with more than 450 runs came back in 2016, and he has only crossed the 400-run mark three times in the past nine years.
Last season, Rohit managed 418 runs with a success rate of almost 150, showing glimpses of his old self but lacking a sustained impact.
With a renewed stature and a clear target in front of them, Mumbai Indians will be hoping that a fitter and sharper Rohit Sharma can rediscover his best and perhaps script a last great chapter, both in the IPL and heading into 2027.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
27 March 2026 14:14 IST
