Cricket

Ashwin predicts Rohit Sharma could take on coaching role for Mumbai Indians.

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Aug 14, 2026, 10:58 IST

Ravichandran Ashwin, a former spinner for India, suggests that Rohit Sharma may take on a coaching or mentoring position post-retirement.

Ashwin predicts Rohit Sharma could take on coaching role for Mumbai Indians.

Ravichandran Ashwin, a former spinner for India, has expressed his belief that Rohit Sharma could play a pivotal role in coaching or mentoring after his cricketing career concludes. Ashwin has urged the Mumbai Indians franchise to integrate their long-time captain into their setup as soon as he retires from playing. This discussion comes at a time when Indian men's cricket has seen a lull following the ODI match against England at Lord's, with IPL trade talks and shifts in international coaching roles taking center stage.

In a recent conversation, Ashwin was asked about the potential future of two of India's modern batting icons, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in coaching roles. While he envisions Rohit taking on a position with the Mumbai Indians, he expressed uncertainty regarding Kohli's immediate transition into coaching. “I don’t think Virat will be ready to become a coach immediately," Ashwin remarked on his YouTube channel. He suggested that Kohli might prefer to take a break from the game before considering any coaching opportunities. “Maybe Rohit Sharma could come into the Mumbai Indians in some capacity. I don’t know about Virat, honestly—Virat will probably want to take a break, in my opinion," he added.

Future Roles for Retired Players

Ashwin also highlighted the increasing significance of franchise cricket, predicting that it will lead to the emergence of specialized roles for former players. He anticipates that positions such as mentor, director of cricket, and high-performance director will become more prevalent, providing successful cricketers with various avenues to stay connected to the sport post-retirement. Rohit, who is now 39, is nearing the end of his playing career, having already retired from T20Is and Tests, while speculation about his future in ODIs continues.

According to Ashwin, Rohit’s tactical acumen makes him an invaluable asset for the Mumbai Indians, and they should not let him slip away once he stops playing. “If tomorrow Rohit decides ‘I won’t play,’ Mumbai Indians should immediately absorb him," Ashwin stated. He emphasized the rarity of a captain who has led the franchise to five IPL titles and contributed to India’s World Cup victory. Ashwin believes that even if Rohit opts out of a demanding head coach role, he could return to the sport in a strategic capacity after a brief hiatus, similar to Rahul Dravid’s career path. “Knowing the Mumbai Indians, they won’t let go of a player with Rohit Sharma’s thinking capacity," he concluded.

As for Kohli, Ashwin anticipates that he may take a different route, likely stepping away from cricket for a while before determining his next steps. With the ongoing expansion of franchise cricket, Ashwin is optimistic that retired stars like Rohit and Kohli will find opportunities in various roles beyond traditional coaching, provided they are allowed the freedom to choose positions that align with their interests.

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