Rohit Sharma is fit and available for Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 20. MI bowling coach Paras Mhambrey confirmed that Rohit has resumed batting in the nets and is being closely monitored by head coach Mahela Jayawardene and the medical staff.
Additionally, Mitchell Santner, who missed the last game due to illness, is also fit to play. This is a massive boost for MI, who have lost four consecutive matches since their opening-night win.
What Happened to Rohit Sharma?
Rohit suffered a hamstring injury during MI’s match against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 12. He was batting on 19 when the injury struck, forcing him to retire hurt. MI went on to lose that game by 18 runs.
Following medical scans, the franchise decided to rest him for the next match against Punjab Kings to prevent the injury from aggravating. Captain Hardik Pandya had initially suggested Rohit might need “a couple of games more” to recover.
However, the recovery has progressed faster than expected. Mhambrey told reporters in Ahmedabad that Rohit looked sharp in the nets. “If you are just walking by the nets out here, if you just look at Rohit’s batting,” Mhambrey said, clearly impressed by what he saw during training.
How Has MI Struggled Without Rohit?
Badly. Since their historic opening-night win against KKR, where Rohit smashed 78 off 38 balls, MI have lost every single match. The four-match losing streak has left them in a desperate position on the points table.
Without Rohit against PBKS, MI had to reshuffle their entire lineup. Quinton de Kock came in and scored a brilliant comeback hundred, but that meant Trent Boult had to sit out to keep the overseas count at four. The replacement, uncapped Mayank Rawat, had a forgettable debut.
Rohit’s return would likely mean Ryan Rickelton makes way, allowing Boult or Corbin Bosch to strengthen the pace attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Shardul Thakur.
Why Is This GT Match Crucial For MI?
Gujarat Titans are on a three-game winning streak and sitting comfortably on the table. They’ve used just 13 players all season, showing remarkable stability. Their pace attack of Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Ashok Sharma has the best combined bowling average in IPL 2026 at 24.89.
Meanwhile, MI’s pace bowlers have the worst average in the tournament at a staggering 65.81. Bumrah is yet to take a single wicket after bowling 19 overs this season. Boult (average 110), Deepak Chahar (87), and Pandya (67) have all been expensive.
For MI, this match is essentially do or die. Another loss, and the playoff conversation shifts from “difficult” to “nearly impossible.” Having Rohit’s 137 runs in 4 matches back in the lineup won’t fix everything, but it gives MI their best available batting lineup at a time when they can’t afford another slip.
The match starts at 7:30 PM IST at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. GT are clear favourites, but if Rohit is truly fit and firing, MI have shown they can chase any total. They did it on day one. They need to do it again.
