Rohit Sharma uncertainty leaves Mumbai Indians scrambling: Who will replace the former captain in PBKS clash?

Rohit Sharma was seen at the Wankhede nets on Wednesday evening, going through light warm-up drills and jogging with a heavily strapped leg.

Updated on: Apr 16, 2026, 12:19:12 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Rohit Sharma suffered an injury during Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last Sunday, retiring hurt on 19 off 13 at the Wankhede Stadium with what appeared to be a hamstring issue. While the team management is yet to provide a clear update, uncertainty continues to loom over his availability for the upcoming home game against Punjab Kings on Thursday, leaving Mumbai Indians with a major selection headache.

Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma getting treated from physio during the 2026 IPL cricket match between MI Vs RCB at Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

Rohit was seen at the Wankhede nets on Wednesday evening, going through light warm-up drills and jogging with a heavily strapped leg. However, his limited activity only fuelled speculation around his participation. “The medical team and coaching staff are assessing him, and we will get to know,” a team official was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India during the session.

That leaves Mumbai with a key question — who replaces Rohit if he misses out?

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Mumbai have two overseas batting options, but Will Jacks is yet to join the squad after seeking extended leave earlier in the season. The England all-rounder is currently en route to India and will not be available for Thursday’s game.

This leaves Quinton de Kock as the most viable replacement. The experienced opener could slot in at the top alongside Ryan Rickelton, offering a strong left-right combination. However, his inclusion would likely force Mumbai to rejig their overseas balance.

One possibility is benching Trent Boult, who has struggled for form this season, and replacing him with an Indian pacer such as Ashwani Kumar. Boult could still be utilised as an Impact Player if required.

Mumbai also have domestic options in Naman Dhir, who has shown promise against the new ball, and Vidarbha opener Danish Malewar.

Mumbai Indians’ likely XII vs Punjab Kings:

Ryan Rickelton (wk), Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar.

Mumbai are currently placed ninth in the points table with one win in four matches, which came against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede in their season opener. They have since lost three in a row. PBKS, on the other hand, are in third place and are the only unbeaten side in the tournament thus far, with seven points.

Punjab hold a superior record against Mumbai with a 3-2 edge in their last five matches. However, at the Wankhede, the two are even at 5-5.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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