Rohit Sharma was not part of the Mumbai Indians’ Playing XI or five-member bench for their game against Punjab Kings on April 16. Here's why he misses out.
No Rohit Sharma in Mumbai-Punjab clash
MI had started the season by defeating the Kolkata Knight Riders, but have lost three on a trot since to sink to ninth place on the points table. On April 16, they are hosting the Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. With three wins (and a washed-out game against KKR), PBKS are the only unbeaten side in this IPL.
Rohit had retired hurt for a 13-ball 19 during MI’s failed chase against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the same venue on Sunday, April 12. While there was no official reason, it seemed to have been a pulled hamstring. Amidst speculations around him missing the Punjab game, he was present at the net sessions as well as at the venue on match day.
At the toss, however, MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that Rohit would not be part of the XI (“Rohit misses out: he’ll take a couple of games to see where he is”). The former India captain is not part of the five-member Impact Player list either (though, as MI are batting first, he would have been part of the starting XI if fit).
Quinton de Kock, Rohit’s opening partner from MI’s halcyon days, replaced Rohit in the starting XI. The unwell Mitchell Santner is sitting out as well: Delhi all-rounder Mayank Rawat is making his IPL debut instead.
Match 24, Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Mumbai Indians playing team vs Punjab Kings, April 16
Starting XI
Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mayank Rawat, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
Impact Player options
AM Ghazanfar, Corbin Bosch, Raj Angad Bawa, Robin Minz, Ashwani Kumar.
