Rohit Sharma of Mumbai Indians (Photo by ANI) NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma’s absence grabbed attention once again as Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya gave a crucial update on the veteran’s return ahead of their IPL 2026 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.Hardik won the toss and elected to bat first but confirmed that Rohit is still not ready for the match. “Rohit will take a few more matches. He has tried, he is not exactly where he wants to be, so he is not available for the team,” Hardik said, effectively ruling him out for the immediate future and hinting at a gradual comeback.
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James Hopes reacts after PBKS loss, calls it ‘reality check’Current Score: MI vs SRH, IPL 2026
MI hit by a few setbacks
Rohit was not the only one missing. Opener Quinton de Kock was also ruled out after picking up a wrist problem.Hardik shed light on the changes: “Mitchell (Santner) was unlucky and so was Quinny today. He just did something with his wrist… Ryan (Rickelton) comes in for Quinny. We have Robin Minz.”Despite the disruption, the MI captain remained upbeat about the team’s preparation. “It was important for all of us to reset, not make it too complicated… just have a couple of good lads’ nights. We had a good session and ticked all the boxes… now we’re excited about the game,” he added.“Just bat and see how many we can score”Explaining his decision to bowl, Hardik said the conditions looked ideal for batting. “It’s looking like a good, windy day… I don’t think the dew will play a part. We’ll just bat and see how many we can score,” he noted, while stressing the importance of leading from the front.“We just want to come out and play our best cricket… it will definitely help the group,” he added.Cummins backs SRH bowlers to adaptSRH captain Pat Cummins, meanwhile, was prepared for a slightly trickier surface. “It looks like there might be a bit of stickiness in the wicket so I’m glad we’re going to bat first,” he said.Cummins emphasized flexibility: “You just have to reset your expectations every game … this pitch might call for something different, so go in with a clear mind.”The Aussie also highlighted his leadership approach: “Obviously I gather information when I’m bowling… and if someone wants something big, I put my arm around them. Hopefully they feel some sympathy.”
MI vs SRH Playing XIs:
Mumbai Indians XI: Ryan Rickelton (w), Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar.Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga.
