Mumbai Indians put in a long training session on Tuesday evening, April 14, but one notable figure was missing from the grounds as the franchise prepared for its next assignment. Rohit Sharma did not make the trip to the stadium, prompting immediate questions over his fitness and whether he will be available for the match against Punjab Kings on Thursday, April 16. The absence only added to the uncertainty around his condition, with the latest understanding that Rohit is dealing with a hamstring issue.
Hamstring complaints are never treated lightly in the high-intensity world of T20 cricket, yet there is also a sense that the situation may not be as damaging as feared. The view emerging from the assessment is that there is no clear indication of a serious enough development to rule Rohit out for a large stretch of the IPL. Rohit had been forced to retire hurt during the sixth over of Mumbai’s chase against RCB on Monday, after making 19 runs off 13 balls.
After that incident, Rohit underwent scans, which were scheduled following reports that first surfaced on April 13. The findings are understood to suggest there is no evidence of a tear, a result that will likely bring relief to the MI management and medical staff. Even with that reassurance, whether Rohit will be used in the XI on Thursday remains a matter of debate. Considering how central he is to the team’s balance and batting plans, the franchise may choose caution to avoid any chance of the injury worsening.
That said, the final decision could still rest with Rohit himself. With his experience, he is expected to play a key role in determining whether he feels ready to take the field, especially given the importance of the upcoming contest.
In the meantime, MI also have another potential boost on the way. Will Jacks is expected to join the squad shortly, if he hasn’t already arrived. There had been hints that the English all-rounder might report on Tuesday, but no firm confirmation was available at the time of publication. Jacks’ arrival would strengthen Mumbai’s middle-order options as well as their spin bowling resources—an aspect where they have not been at their best this season. The impact of his all-round ability is not in doubt either, with Jacks having been named Player of the Match four times during the recent World Cup for his performances across disciplines.
