Why did Rohit Sharma miss CSK vs MI clash of IPL 2026?

Rohit Sharma has played four games for MI in IPL 2026.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are locking horns tonight in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The encounter is taking place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. IPL 2026 has been a horrible season for both sides and they are among the least favourites to book a berth in the playoffs.

CSK take the seventh spot in the points table with just three victories out of eight games. On the other hand, Mumbai have won just two matches out of eight encounters and are placed in ninth place in the points table.

In match 44, MI captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat first. Rohit Sharma yet again was the notable miss in MI’s XI. He was also absent from the previous game and the last clash between the two sides at the Wankhede Stadium.

Why is Rohit Sharma missing MI’s clash against CSK in IPL 2026?

Notably, Rohit suffered a hamstring injury while batting in the clash against RCB on April 12. He has been recovering from the injury since then. In the pre-match press conference of the CSK vs MI match, Mumbai head coach Mahela Jayawardene had clarified that Rohit is yet to be completely match-fit.

“He is working really hard to get back at it. So for us with the medical team, it’s on a daily basis. We see how he feels, how he pulls up the next day. So we’ll make a decision tomorrow. We’ll see him practicing today as well. So let’s see how he feels tomorrow and what the medical team will tell us,” Mahela Jayawardene had said.

Hence, Rohit is taking part in the team’s practice sessions and fitness drills. However, the medical team is yet to give him the go-ahead to take the field.

Pandya revealed at the toss that Raghu Sharma and Krish Bhagat were two additions to their side for the clash against CSK.

Revealing the playing XI at the toss, Pandya said, “We’re gonna bat first. Looks like a good track. The way we batted in the last game, we want to give another opportunity to our batters to score runs. We have one debut – the leggie (Raghu Sharma) plays his first game and Krish comes back in for Ashwani”.

Meanwhile, Sharma scored a fifty in the opening game against KKR but could not make a mark in other matches. At an average of 45.67 and a strike rate of 165.06, he has scored 137 runs in four games in IPL 2026.

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