Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma was rested for Match 24 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after sustaining a hamstring injury. The decision came as Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bowl first at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. There were doubts about Rohit’s availability, with Mumbai Indians keeping the information confidential until the last moment.
With Rohit sidelined, Quinton de Kock took his place alongside Ryan Rickelton at the top. During the toss, Hardik Pandya revealed that Mitchell Santner was unwell and rested, while Trent Boult was replaced by Deepak Chahar. Mumbai Indians also introduced Mayank Rawat for his debut, while Punjab Kings stuck with their existing playing XI.
Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer explained his decision to bowl first, citing the dew factor that would improve the pitch conditions. He emphasized the importance of staying proactive and avoiding complacency. In response, MI captain Hardik Pandya expressed a similar preference to bowl first and highlighted the need for his team to perform well in crucial moments.
