NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians fans hoping for a Rohit Sharma resurgence were left disappointed on Friday evening, as the star opener was ruled out of the high-stakes clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
The official word from MI captain Hardik Pandya at the toss was clear: “Rohit was hit on the knee. He is missing out.”
Also See: MI vs LSG Live Score, IPL 2025
While the extent of the injury isn’t yet known, the timing of the setback couldn’t be worse for both the player and the franchise.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Rohit, who has been under scrutiny for a string of low scores this season, was expected to bounce back in a crucial match that could shape Mumbai’s campaign.
With only two points from three matches, MI currently sit sixth on the table and are still searching for consistency.
Hardik, who opted to bowl first after winning the toss, downplayed the surface factor and focused on execution.
“We’ve spoken in the group about not overthinking the pitch. It’s about adaptation and sticking to the right plans,” he said.
He also hinted at Jasprit Bumrah returning soon, another major boost for Mumbai in the coming fixtures.
Rohit’s absence means the batting lineup will have to reshuffle, potentially opening the door for a young replacement to make an impression.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant’s LSG will also be looking to turn things around after a disappointing start to their home campaign, and the pressure is now squarely on both sides to deliver.
For now, Mumbai must regroup without one of their most experienced campaigners, and fans will hope Rohit’s knee issue is minor and not a sign of a longer layoff.
LSG vs MI: Starting XIs
Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan
Mumbai Indians: Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Vignesh Puthur
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
