Rohit Sharma Challenged to Match Virat Kohli’s IPL Record After Major Fitness Overhaul

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has challenged Rohit Sharma to deliver his best-ever IPL season, saying the Mumbai Indians star must now convert his new fitness and form into a 600-run campaign.

Despite his stature as one of the IPL’s greatest captains, Rohit is yet to register a 600-plus run season, a benchmark that Virat Kohli has crossed multiple times.

Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, said that while Rohit’s leadership and match-winning cameos often earn him applause, his overall run tally still falls short when compared to elite batters like Kohli.

“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,” Kaif said.

Rohit, who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, came closest to breaching the 600-run mark in 2013 with 538 runs, still his highest season tally. Last year, he scored 418 runs at a strike rate of 149.29, including four half-centuries.

Mumbai Indians have already confirmed that Rohit will continue to play for them amid swirling trade rumours.

The veteran opener has also undergone a noticeable fitness transformation recently, reportedly shedding weight and improving endurance as he eyes a strong IPL 2026 campaign.

Kaif believes that a leaner, hungrier Rohit could finally silence his critics with the bat.

“The biggest test for him this time is to cross the 500 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 added.