New Delhi: Rohit Sharma’s absence took center stage once again as Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya on Wednesday provided an important update on the veteran’s return ahead of the IPL 2026 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium.Winning the toss, Hardik elected to bat first but confirmed that Rohit is still not ready for the match. “Rohit is going to play some more games. He’s trying, it’s not where he’d like, so he’s not available for the team,” Hardik said, hinting at a gradual comeback, effectively ruling him out in the near future.
Live Score: MI vs SRH, IPL 2026
MI suffered several setbacks
It wasn’t just Rohit’s lack. The opener Quinton de Kock Was also ruled out after raising the wrist issue.Hardik highlighted the changes: “Mitchell (Santner) was unlucky, and so was Queenie today. He just did something to his wrist… Ryan (Rickleton) comes in for Queenie. We’ve got Robin Munns.”Despite the setbacks, the MI captain remained optimistic about the team’s preparations. “It was a reset for all of us, not too complicated … just had a couple of good lads’ evenings. We had good sessions and ticked all the boxes … just excited for the game now,” he added.‘Just bat and see how much we can score’Explaining his decision on the toss, Hardik said the conditions looked ideal for batting. “Looks like a nice, breezy day… I don’t think the dew will be a factor. We’re just going to bat and see how much we can score,” he said, stressing the importance of leadership from the front.“We just want to come out and play the best cricket… that will definitely help the group,” he added.Cummins backed the SRH bowlers to adapt.SRH captain Pat Cummins, meanwhile, was prepared for a slightly tougher surface. “It looked like the wicket might have a bit of hesitation, so it was nice to bowl first,” he said.Cummins stressed flexibility: “You have to reset your expectations every game… This pitch might ask something different, so go in with a clear mind.”The Australian also highlighted his leadership style: “I obviously get information when I’m bowling … and if someone goes for big overs I put my arm around them. Hopefully they will feel some sympathy.”
MI vs SRH Playing XIs:
Mumbai Indians XI: Ryan Rickelton (W), Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Surya Kumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya (C), Robin Manns, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwini Kumar.Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Henrik Klaasen, Salil Arora (W), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Harsh Dubey, Saqib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Ishan Malinga.
