Mumbai Indians tell Rohit Sharma to decide his fate against Lucknow Super Giants, hopes fade for MS Dhoni

Mumbai Indians have allowed Rohit Sharma to decide his availability against Lucknow Super Giants, but MS Dhoni’s update paints a grim picture.

Updated on: May 4, 2026, 14:57:23 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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In what could be a major boost, the Mumbai Indians team management has left Rohit Sharma’s participation against Lucknow Super Giants to the player himself. Rohit has been out of action since Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12. Batting on 19, he injured his hamstring and had to retire hurt. Rohit has yet to regain full match fitness, although he has been travelling and training with the team. On Sunday evening, he batted for an hour and looked in fine touch, raising hopes of a comeback.

Will we ever see Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni on the same field in the same frame again? (AFP)

With MI set to face LSG in their 10th match of the season, Rohit will decide whether he is fit enough to take the field in Mumbai on Monday.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma injures groundstaff, rushes with first-aid despite being told ‘keep batting’

“Rohit Sharma to decide his own availability for tonight's game against LSG. It is understood that the team management has left the decision entirely to him Rohit was seen batting for almost an hour and going through fitness drills on the eve of the match,” Cricbuzz tweeted.

Dhoni doesn’t travel to Delhi

As if Rohit’s injury was not already a major blow for fans, there has been no positive update on MS Dhoni’s participation in the league. Dhoni suffered a calf injury just days before the start of the IPL and was ruled out for the first two weeks. More than a month later, there is still no clarity on his return.

Not long ago, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming dropped a ‘second injury’ bombshell about Dhoni. The situation has only added to the uncertainty, with Dhoni not even travelling with the team, making his return appear increasingly unlikely. And now, the latest update is not encouraging either. He is not part of the CSK travelling contingent for their upcoming match against Delhi Capitals, although the management remains hopeful that he will feature at some stage in the IPL 2026 season.

“He should be available at some stage,” a senior team official told Cricbuzz.

An IPL that feels much more boring than the previous 18 seasons has not been helped by the absence of Rohit and Dhoni. While Virat Kohli and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have grabbed headlines, with 200-plus totals being chased as if it were the new normal, the presence of two IPL greats and the most successful captains could have made a difference. Rohit’s case appears hopeful, with MI having at least five matches left, but Dhoni's return at 44 now looks like a bridge too far.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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