The upcoming edition of the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-aakash-chopra-picks-top-contenders-for-orange-cap-ahead-of-season-23622940" rel="nofollow">Indian Premier League</a> (IPL) is all set to kick off from March 28.
Ahead of the league, former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stalwart Virat Kohli will have a big season among the star players.
Speaking about Kohli, the former cricketer explained the reason behind why he picked the right-handed batsman to have a stellar run in the tournament.
"The focus will be on <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-rcb-stalwart-virat-kohli-reacts-to-chartered-flights-to-london-reports-ahead-of-season-23622017" rel="nofollow">Virat Kohli</a> 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," he said on JioStar.
He also feels Rohit should continue to bat in the same aggressive fashion, as there will be players such as Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Kumar and others waiting in the Mumbai Indians' (MI) dugout.
"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 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/t20-world-cup-2026-quinton-de-kock-explains-the-pressure-of-playing-matches-in-india-23610850" rel="nofollow">Quinton de Kock</a> 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," said Chopra.
"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.
<h2>IPL 2026, Opening match: Date and venue</h2>
The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ipl-2026-royal-challengers-bengaluru-full-schedule-rcb-fixtures-dates-timings-venues-23622873" rel="nofollow">Royal Challengers Bengaluru</a> (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
(With ANI Inputs)

IPL 2026: The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad

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The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru

Aakash Chopra picks Virat Kohli over Rohit Sharma to have a big season with bat

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