Rohit Sharma faced a hamstring issue during the MI clash against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, which prompted him to retire out as he was not able to bat. This also led to the breaking of momentum for MI while chasing which led to an 18 run loss against the Challengers. Sharma was taken to HL Reliance Hospital on Monday evening for scans accompanied by team physio Nitin Patel, and reports were awaited by the management for further decisions.

While initial reports from Cricbuzz suggest scans did not show a major muscle tear, the injury is serious enough to require rest.Rohit skipped the team's training and optional net sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, further indicating his unavailability.In his absence, MI is expected to bring in South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock to open the innings alongside Ryan Rickelton. Alternatively, Suryakumar Yadav or Naman Dhir could be promoted to the top order.

The injury is a significant blow for MI, who currently sit at the bottom of the table with only one win from four matches.

Punjab Kings to face Mumbai Indians at Wankhede

Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) tomorrow, Thursday, 16 April 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Punjab Kings currently in excellent form, sitting 2nd on the points table with three wins from four matches. They are coming off a series of strong performances, including recent wins against Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings.

However Mumbai Indians are finding themselves in a tough spot, currently 9th on the table with only one win from four matches. They are looking to break a losing streak in front of their home crowd.

In their last five head-to-head encounters, Punjab Kings (PBKS) lead Mumbai Indians (MI) with 3 wins to 2. This reflects a recent shift in momentum toward Punjab, who have won six of their last eight meetings overall. Mumbai has historically been strong here (8 wins in 11 games), but they haven't defeated PBKS at this venue since 2019. Punjab's recent dominance was highlighted in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2, where Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 87 off 41 balls eliminated Mumbai to secure their spot in the final.