IPL 2026: ‘Lafda ho gaya na’- R Ashwin’s cheeky reply on Rohit Sharma rift rumours

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin may have stepped away from international cricket and the Indian Premier League, but he remains closely connected to the game through commentary and his growing presence as a digital analyst. From pre-match breakdowns to post-match reviews on his YouTube channel, Ashwin continues to offer detailed insights, often becoming part of the conversation around key performances.

However, his absence from analysing the Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians clash in IPL 2026 did not go unnoticed. The game itself was headlined by a vintage knock from Rohit Sharma, who returned from injury in style, smashing 84 off 44 balls to lead Mumbai’s charge in a high-scoring encounter.

Fans were quick to point out that Ashwin had not spoken about Rohit’s innings, prompting a light-hearted question during one of his shows. The anchor jokingly asked whether there was any issue between the two.

“Fans are saying you come and analyse RCB, Virat Kohli's game but Rohit Sharma played such a fine knock after so long. You ignored him. Kuch hua hai kya aapka Rohit se? (did something happen between you and Rohit),” Ashwin was asked.

Ashwin responded with humour, saying, “Haan thoda lafda ho gaya na (Yes, I had a bit of a tussle).”

He quickly clarified the situation, dismissing any speculation and explaining the real reason behind missing the game.

“You are saying anything. If I have had any tussle with anyone, I would not keep it to myself. Please understand me and keep a soft corner for me as well. I did commentary for two consecutive days and then travelled, came home, and slept at night,” he explained.

Despite missing the initial analysis, Ashwin had high praise for Rohit’s innings.

“Rohit Sharma played a very good knock. The way he hit Avesh Khan for a six over extra cover, put it in a loop, and watch it 1,000 times. What a shot. He also hit Manimaran Siddharth for a six over the bowler. But LSG and MI have no scene in this IPL. Mumbai have nothing to prove. They only have themselves to prove. But even against LSG, they were in trouble with the ball. So, let's see if they can do better from hereon,” he said.

On the field, Rohit and Ryan Rickelton put on a dominant display for Mumbai Indians. The duo stitched together a 143-run opening stand, with Rickelton blasting 83 off just 32 balls, as MI chased down Lucknow’s imposing 228/5 in 18.4 overs to secure a six-wicket win.

The victory, however, does little to change the bigger picture for either side. Mumbai Indians now have three wins from 10 matches and sit on six points, while Lucknow Super Giants remain at the bottom with four points from nine games. With the playoff race tightening, both teams are now almost out of contention in IPL 2026.