IPL 2026: Why is Rohit Sharma not playing in MI vs PBKS match?
Uncertainty surrounded Rohit Sharma before MI’s clash with Punjab Kings after his hamstring injury. He skipped training, and scans raised concerns. At the toss, Hardik Pandya confirmed Rohit would miss multiple games.
Mitchell Santner was also unavailable, forcing changes, with Quinton de Kock returning and a debut for Mayank Rawat.
NEW DELHI: The build-up to Mumbai Indians’ clash against Punjab Kings was dominated by one question: would Rohit Sharma play? A day before the match, uncertainty hung thick. MI’s team management stayed tight-lipped, with their media manager confirming that the decision rested with the medical staff.
Rohit, who had suffered a hamstring injury against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, had skipped training and only made a brief appearance later with his leg strapped, not picking up the bat. Scans reportedly followed, fuelling concern that the injury might sideline him for more than just one game. The timing couldn’t have been worse.
Rohit had looked in fine touch in IPL 2026, anchoring MI’s campaign with a fluent 78 against Kolkata Knight Riders and a steady 35 versus Delhi Capitals. His absence threatened to disrupt combinations, forcing a rethink that could bring Quinton de Kock back at the top while reshuffling the middle order. By toss time, the speculation ended.