Why is Rohit Sharma not playing in MI vs PBKS match?

NEW DELHI: The build-up to Mumbai Indians’ clash against Punjab Kings was dominated by 1 question: would Rohit Sharma play?A time earlier the match, uncertainty hung thick. MI’s squad absorption stayed tight-lipped, with their media manager confirming that the determination rested with the aesculapian staff. Rohit, who had suffered a hamstring wounded against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, had skipped grooming and lone made a little quality aboriginal with his limb strapped, not picking up the bat.

Scans reportedly followed, fuelling interest that the wounded mightiness sideline him for much than conscionable 1 game.The timing couldn’t person been worse. Rohit had looked successful good interaction successful IPL 2026, anchoring MI’s run with a fluent 78 against Kolkata Knight Riders and a dependable 35 versus Delhi Capitals. His lack threatened to disrupt combinations, forcing a rethink that could bring Quinton de Kock backmost astatine the apical portion reshuffling the mediate order.By flip time, the speculation ended. Captain Hardik Pandya, aft Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer asked MI to bat first, confirmed Rohit would miss the game, and perchance more. “He’s gonna instrumentality a mates of games,” Pandya said, making it wide MI were unwilling to unreserved their seasoned opener back.There was much disruption too. Mitchell Santner was ruled retired owed to illness, prompting further changes. De Kock returned, portion a debut headdress went to Mayank Rawat.

For MI, this wasn’t conscionable astir 1 subordinate missing. Rohit’s lack strips the broadside of acquisition and stableness astatine the top. With the tourney heating up, however rapidly helium recovers could signifier not conscionable this match, but Mumbai Indians’ full IPL 2026 campaign.

MI vs PBKS Playing XIs

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Cooper Connolly, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra ChahalPunjab Kings Impact Subs: Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Yash ThakurMumbai Indians (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mayank Rawat, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit BumrahMumbai Indians Impact Subs: AM Ghazanfar, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, Ashwani Kumar