Rohit Sharma is not permanently ruled out of IPL 2026, but serious concerns surround his participation in the coming matches after he retired hurt with a right hamstring injury during Mumbai Indians’ clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium on April 12. The veteran opener is currently undergoing medical evaluation, with the franchise and fans anxiously awaiting the scan results.
Chasing a formidable target of 241, Rohit started with intent and looked in good touch, but just a few overs in, he was seen struggling with visible discomfort in his leg, limping while running between the wickets.
The team physio rushed onto the ground in the sixth over and strapped his right hamstring heavily in an attempt to keep him going. Despite the effort, Rohit could not continue and walked off having scored just 19 off 13 balls, leaving the Wankhede crowd in silence.
After his departure, Suryakumar Yadav came in to steady the chase, but Mumbai Indians kept losing wickets at crucial moments and eventually fell short by 18 runs.
At the post-match press conference, Sherfane Rutherford acknowledged it appeared to be a hamstring issue, but stressed that no official diagnosis had been confirmed yet, with the team waiting on medical reports.
Unverified reports suggest Rohit could be sidelined for one and a half to two weeks, potentially missing the next two matches, though Mumbai Indians have not issued any formal statement on his condition.
The setback could not have come at a worse time. The five-time champions have lost three games in a row and sit eighth on the points table with just one win from four matches. Without their experienced opener at the top, the batting order faces added pressure.
At 37, Rohit’s recovery will be managed carefully, with his availability for MI’s next game against Punjab Kings on April 16 set to depend entirely on the outcome of his ongoing medical evaluation.
