Why has Rohit Sharma retired hurt? The Mumbai Indians opener walked off during the MI vs RCB IPL 2026 chase at Wankhede Stadium on April 12, pulling out of his innings at 19 off 13 balls due to a right hamstring injury that left him visibly limping between the wickets.
Rohit Sharma retired hurt in the sixth over of MI’s chase of 241, with Mumbai at 56 for 0. The former India captain had his right hamstring strapped by the physio but ultimately decided his movement was too compromised to continue, walking off to a stunned Wankhede crowd.
Mumbai Indians went on to lose the game by 18 runs and Rohit did not come out to bat again as RCB took home two more points to move to third spot in the IPL 2026 points table.
(updated after MI vs RCB result in IPL 2026)
What Happened To Rohit Sharma? Why Has Rohit Sharma Retired Hurt?
The Rohit Sharma injury update traces to the early stages of MI’s chase. Signs of discomfort appeared as early as the fourth over, when Rohit was limping while completing runs. By the fifth over, the issue became more apparent — he was slow between wickets, struggling to push off his right leg while running.
The physio came on at the end of the fifth over to assess the Rohit Sharma hamstring injury. His right hamstring was strapped, and Rohit initially attempted to continue. He faced the first ball of the sixth over from Rasikh Salam, blocking it into the on side — and then made the call. The movement was not good enough, Rohit decided, and he walked off retired hurt on 19 off 13 balls.
What made the situation worse was the context. Ryan Rickelton was blazing away at the other end — 35 off 18 with three fours and three sixes — and MI desperately needed Rohit to stay with him as they chased 241. But continuing with a hamstring injury would have meant Rohit becoming a liability between the wickets and potentially risking a long-term injury that could sideline him for weeks.
ALSO READ: Why Is Josh Hazlewood Not Playing Today In MI vs RCB?
Can Rohit Sharma Bat Again In MI vs RCB Match? Rohit Sharma Hamstring Injury Explained
Yes, Rohit Sharma could have batted again if needed. Under IPL rules, a retired hurt batter is allowed to return to bat later in the innings with the permission of the opposing captain. This is the same rule that allowed David Miller to return and nearly win the match for DC against GT earlier in IPL 2026 after retiring hurt with a finger injury.
However, Rohit never returned even as Mumbai struggled to chase down the target, which sort of suggests that they want to be really careful with his hamstring. A hamstring injury is different from a finger knock — it directly affects running, which is essential in a high-scoring chase.
Suryakumar Yadav replaced Rohit in the middle, joining Rickelton with MI needing 185 off 90 balls. While Sherfane Rutherford and Hardik Pandya made valuable contributions, MI couldn’t really pressurise RCB in the chase.
Virat Kohli Also Leaves The Field With Ankle Injury
It wasn’t just Rohit Sharma dealing with fitness concerns in this MI vs RCB clash. On the other side, Virat Kohli was spotted going off the field during MI’s chase with what commentator Simon Doull described on air as an ankle injury.
Kohli had earlier batted through the RCB innings, scoring 50 off 38 balls — a knock that sparked a retired out debate among fans given how quickly Rajat Patidar was scoring at the other end. There is no official update yet on the Kohli ankle injury or its severity. Read full Virat Kohli injury update.
Is Rohit Sharma Injured Seriously? What This Means For Mumbai Indians
Is Rohit Sharma injured beyond tonight’s match? That is the bigger concern for Mumbai Indians. Hamstring injuries in cricket can range from minor tightness that settles overnight to muscle tears that require weeks of recovery. At 39, Rohit’s body takes longer to recover from soft-tissue injuries, and MI will not want to risk aggravating what could be a minor strain into something more serious.
MI were already eighth on the IPL 2026 table before this match, having won just one of their first three games. Losing Rohit for any period would be a significant blow to a side that relies on his experience and big-match temperament at the top of the order.
An official Rohit Sharma injury update from the Mumbai Indians medical team is expected, but for now, we have reports stating that he will undergo scans to evaluate the extent of the injury. It is assumed to be a less serious strain, but it remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma will miss the subsequent games for Mumbai Indians.
Follow The Dakia for more updates on IPL 2026.
