Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has made a strong statement about the fitness transformation of veteran opener Rohit Sharma ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026. Rohit, who will represent the Mumbai Indians, is set to return to competitive action when the tournament begins on March 28. Speaking on his YouTube channel on March 13, Kaif praised Rohit’s recent fitness efforts, claiming the 38-year-old looks noticeably younger and sharper.

According to Kaif, the Indian captain has completely transformed his physical condition, effectively answering critics who previously questioned his fitness levels. “A year from now, you will remember exactly what I am saying now. Whenever Rohit Sharma comes out to bat, this is what you will recall. Look at what he has done with his fitness, look at how his batting is going. His face has completely firmed up, he looks completely young. It’s as if he has taken off four or five years from his age,” Mohammad Kaif said during the discussion.

The former India cricketer went a step further, predicting that Rohit’s fitness could become one of the biggest talking points leading into the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

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“So watch, at the 2027 World Cup, I guarantee you that these are the two things people will talk about regarding Rohit Sharma. The one people used to question, he has completely put a full stop to that now,” Mohammad Kaif added.

While Rohit has stepped away from Test and T20I cricket, he continues to play a crucial role for India in the ODI format. Kaif believes the experienced opener has already answered his critics — not just through improved fitness but also through consistent performances with the bat.

“Rohit Sharma completely silenced the critics. People had raised questions saying that he had become a little heavy, was struggling to move, and was not scoring runs. But Rohit answered all those questions through his performance,” Mohammad Kaif explained. “He worked on his fitness and now he looks extremely lean and fit, much more than before. He effectively proved the critics wrong by showing that he has worked on his body and is in great shape,” he added.

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Kaif also pointed out that Rohit’s recent batting numbers further strengthen his case. Since 2025, the experienced opener has played 17 ODIs, scoring 711 runs at an average of 44.44 with a strike rate close to 98, including four half-centuries and two centuries. With both form and fitness on his side, Rohit Sharma will now look to carry that momentum into IPL 2026 and guide Mumbai Indians to another strong campaign.