MI vs PBKS: Mumbai Indians were dealt a significant setback ahead of their IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings as senior batter Rohit Sharma remained unavailable due to injury concerns, with captain Hardik Pandya confirming that the opener is likely to miss multiple matches while recovering.
Rohit Sharma sustained a hamstring injury during Mumbai Indians’ previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he was forced to retire hurt after experiencing discomfort while batting. Subsequent medical scans did not indicate a major tear, but the injury was serious enough to keep him out of training sessions in the days leading up to the Punjab Kings fixture.
The uncertainty around his fitness continued into the match against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, where Rohit was not included in the playing XI. Reports confirmed that the team management opted to rest him as part of his recovery process, with Quinton de Kock coming in as his replacement in the line-up.
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya provided a clear update on Rohit’s situation, stating that the batter would require additional time before returning to action. “Rohit is out from the last game. He’s gonna take a couple of games for him to see how exactly where he is,” Pandya said at the toss, indicating that the absence is expected to extend beyond a single match.
In addition to Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians also missed the services of Mitchell Santner against Punjab Kings. The absence of key players comes at a challenging time for the franchise, which has been dealing with inconsistent performances and is looking to regain momentum in the tournament.
