Ahead of the match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026, experienced batsman Rohit Sharma remains the center of attraction. The opening batsman is still recovering from a hamstring injury, which has created uncertainty over his availability for the match at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, April 29.
After the poor performance in the tournament, the Hardik Pandya-led team needs its senior batsman. They are coming off the back of a heavy 103-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings and are currently placed ninth in the 10-team table. To remain in the race for the playoffs, the team will have to make strong changes in its remaining seven matches.
Is Rohit Sharma Ready to watch MI vs SRH IPL 2026 match?
Rohit Sharma suffered a hamstring injury during the home loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 12. After retiring during that run chase, he missed three consecutive matches, forcing Mumbai Indians to reshuffle their top order.
According to the Times of India report, the team management will take the final decision on the match day. Although Rohit has resumed light training and net sessions, the franchise is cautious and is avoiding any risks on his return.
Before the injury, Rohit had scored 137 runs at a strike rate of 165.06. As he approaches his 39th birthday, there are concerns about his fitness and whether he will return to the IPL soon.
Mumbai Indians struggling to find stable opening combination
Mumbai Indians have recorded their worst batting numbers this season. The team has scored only 1173 runs overall, including only 366 runs during the powerplay, reflecting their inability to generate early momentum during crucial run chases.
In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians have repeatedly experimented with different opening combinations but without any success. MI tried overseas options like Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton before giving debut to young Danish Malevar, who managed scores of 2 and 0 in his first two matches.
This continued instability at the top of the order has affected the entire batting lineup. While Tilak Verma remains the leading run-scorer, senior players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Sherfane Rutherford have struggled for consistency, and failed to build momentum throughout the tournament.
Mitchell Santner ruled out of IPL 2026
Mumbai Indians have lost Mitchell Santner for the rest of the tournament, further adding to their problems. The New Zealand all-rounder injured his left shoulder while attempting a diving catch against Chennai Super Kings, forcing the franchise to bring in Keshav Maharaj as his replacement.
Now it has become even more difficult for the weakened Mumbai Indians team to face Sunrisers Hyderabad. Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH have fielded a strong bowling unit, while their explosive batting lineup has remained on top in runs, averages and sixes hit this season.
Rohit Sharma’s performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL was mediocre. Rohit Sharma has scored 535 runs in 25 innings at an average of 24.32 and strike rate of 136.13. Despite this record, Mumbai Indians will be largely dependent on their experienced opener to win this match.
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