Mumbai Indians started their IPL 2026 campaign with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders but it hasn’t been the same since. They have now lost three games on the trot and are sitting ninth in the points table. Further adding to their woes is the fitness concern surrounding Rohit Sharma ahead of their clash with Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
PBKS, on the other hand, are the only undefeated team in the competition so far. They would have fancied their chances of beating KKR as well had rain not marred that encounter at the Eden Gardens. Punjab have historically done well in Mumbai and with MI not in their best form, they will be looking forward to continuing their impressive run.
WILL ROHIT SHARMA PLAY AGAINST PBKS?
Mumbai Indians sweat over Rohit Sharma’s fitness, who suffered a hamstring injury against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The veteran scored 19 off 13 deliveries before walking off the field. Cricbuzz later reported that Rohit was scheduled for a scan to assess the extent of the injury.
In the pre-match press conference, Naman Dhir said that Rohit is currently being assessed by the medical team and coaching staff and a decision will be taken once there is more clarity.
If Rohit is not available, MI will have to change the batting order. Suryakumar Yadav is an option to open. Suryakumar opened the batting for MI in 2018 and scored 441 runs in 12 matches at an average of 36.75.
They also have Quinton de Kock as an opening option, although this would require them to rethink how they use Sherfane Rutherford, who has featured as an Impact Sub so far.
CAN PUNJAB CONTINUE THEIR UNDEFEATED RUN?
Punjab Kings remain unbeaten in the tournament and they haven’t really been tested yet. The only concern they could address is conceding a total of 200 or more – something that has happened twice. This means they managed to chase down both targets in the penultimate crossing, avoiding the unpredictability of penultimate finishes.
Punjab’s success was largely built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance. Shreyas Iyer impressed as captain, leading from the front with the bat and scoring 137 runs, including two fifties.
However, PBKS may need to tighten up their bowling going forward as their batsmen may require more support in the later stages of the tournament.
BUMRAH’S FORM CARE FOR ME?
Jasprit Bumrah’s form is one of the key reasons why Mumbai Indians have yet to embark on IPL 2026. The pace spear has an economy ratio of 8.20 which is respectable on pitches suitable for batting, but his lack of wickets in four matches has raised concerns.
In fact, Bumrah now has five matches and 122 wicketless deliveries – his longest streak in IPL history. For MI to turn things around, his return to form became essential.
His new partner Trent Boult also struggled, managing just one wicket at an economy of 12.22. Apart from Mitchell Santner, every other MI player has conceded runs above 10 in an over, highlighting that it’s not just Bumrah – the entire bowling unit needs to step up.
MUMBAI: PITCH AND TERMS
The pitch in Mumbai has been a complete mess this season. In the four innings at the Wankhede so far, the lowest total is 220, underlining how tough it has been for the bowlers. Teams will aim for around 240 to feel safe. After winning the roll, chasing should be an obvious choice.
No rain expected in Mumbai, clear skies. Conditions will be hot, with temperatures around 29C and humidity in the 50s and 60s.
MI vs PBKS: HEAD-TO-HEAD
There is nothing separating the two sides – both teams have won 17 matches each from 34 since 2008. Even at the Wankhede, the head-to-head is tied at 5-5, which points to another very competitive game. When they last met in Mumbai in 2023, PBKS won by 13 runs.
MI vs PBKS: Predicted XI
MI Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma/Suryakumar Yadav, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Raj Angad Bawa, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah
Impact Sub: Sherfan Rutherford
PBKS Predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Sub: Nehal Wadher
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– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
16 Apr 2026 10:15 IST
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