Kamal Ghorui
As the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, the spotlight is firmly on three modern greats — MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — all looking to make another strong statement this season. Former India batter turned commentator Aakash Chopra weighed in on what to expect from the trio, offering insights into their roles, form, and potential impact in the upcoming campaign. Chopra backed Kohli to shine once again, pointing to his elite fitness levels and the advantage of opening the innings. He believes those factors give Kohli an edge over others, even when compared with Rohit Sharma. “The focus will be on Virat Kohli again because the guy is so fit. The kind of fitness that he has achieved over a period of time makes him the best suited, also because he is an opener. The same is true for Rohit Sharma as well, but between the two of them, I still feel Virat Kohli has it a little easier just because of himself. That is the price he has to pay for the kind of fitness and legacy he has built,” said Chopra. At 37, Kohli remains the most prolific batter in IPL history, with 8,661 runs in 267 matches. A one-franchise player for RCB since 2008, he also owns the record for the most runs in a single season (973 in 2016) and the highest number of centuries (8) in the tournament. Chopra, however, feels the challenge is steeper for Dhoni. The former Chennai Super Kings captain, now on the wrong side of 40, faces the added difficulty of limited game time leading into the IPL, along with a demanding dual role. “It is a little difficult for Dhoni as well because he is on the wrong side of 40. For him, not to play anything for 10 months, turn up for the IPL and switch on, and also play at a number where he gets only 10-12 balls, is the toughest thing to do. Then there are also 20 overs of keeping, so his job is perhaps the toughest,” Chopra explained. On Rohit’s approach with the bat, Chopra expects no shift in intent. With a power-packed Mumbai Indians batting line-up around him, the responsibility to attack early remains crucial. “When you are part of the batting order that the Mumbai Indians have, it is mandatory to set the tone for Rohit Sharma. Rohit does want to bat a certain way. He has already made his opinion very public. But if you are part of a setup where there is Quinton de Kock at the other end, followed by Tilak, Surya, Hardik, Will Jacks or Sherfane Rutherford, and then Naman Dhir, what else is the option? You need to maximise the 20 overs, which basically means maximising the first six overs.“ “So, yes, Rohit would be expected to bat the same way, see the ball, hit the ball; that is what I am thinking for the entire Mumbai Indians setup, unless the pitch is asking you to play a slightly different brand of cricket,” he added. With three icons at different stages of their careers, IPL 2026 promises another fascinating chapter in their enduring legacy.
