Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav. Image Credits: AFP
The Mumbai Indians franchise is yet to provide any clarity regarding the potential return of Rohit Sharma into the team’s playing XI this IPL 2026 season. The legendary opening batter has not played a single game since he sustained a hamstring injury against the RCB a month ago on April 12.
Having missed five matches for the Mumbai Indians since then, it is now learnt that the franchise has decided to leave the final call on Rohit Sharma’s return for the upcoming clash against LSG to the player himself. For the Mumbai Indians franchise, the match holds significant importance, as a defeat at this stage of the tournament would all but end their playoff ambitions.
Mumbai Indians leave big decision to Rohit Sharma himself
As reported by Cricbuzz, the Mumbai Indians team management has left the decision entirely to injured opener Rohit Sharma himself on whether he wants to play his team’s upcoming home IPL 2026 fixture against the LSG.
The match will be hosted by the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, May 4 from 7:30 PM IST onwards.
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While Rohit has been out of cricketing action since April 12 last month, the cricketer spent an hour performing fitness drills at the Wankhede this past weekend.
Even though there is still no official confirmation regarding his availability, Sharma’s recent fitness drills have offered encouraging signs for Mumbai Indians ahead of the crucial clash. A day before the match, he came to the ground and was accompanied by head coach Mahela Jayawardene before engaging in a long batting session.
With Mumbai Indians falling to the brink of a certain elimination from the IPL 2026 playoffs race, the 39-year-old might consider to return to the team’s playing XI for their all-important game.
Mumbai Indians lose four in five matches since Rohit Sharma’s absence
Rohit Sharma suffered a hamstring injury during a match against the RCB on April 12 last month. The cricketer has since missed each of his team’s subsequent five matches this IPL 2026 season.
In the absence of Sharma, the Mumbai Indians franchise has lost four of those five matches as they are currently languishing at number nine on the IPL 2026 points table.
Mumbai Indians enter must-win territory
In a bid to stay in contention for the IPL 2026 playoffs race, the Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians franchise need to win each of its remaining five matches, with convincing margins no less.
Even by winning all their remaining games, the celebrated franchise would finish the league stage with a maximum of 14 points. While 14 points might not necessarily guarantee a place in the top four, the RCB franchise did qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2024 by edging past others on net run rate.
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