Will Rohit Sharma play today in the MI vs CSK IPL 2026 match at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23? The decision is expected at toss time. The former Mumbai Indians captain has missed the last two matches — against Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans — with a hamstring injury sustained during the MI vs RCB game on April 12, and an MI spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that Rohit is “still being assessed” by the medical team. Will Rohit Sharma play against CSK? He was spotted batting in the nets with his injured leg strapped, but missed the optional training session on Tuesday, leaving his availability for Thursday’s El Clasico hanging in the balance.
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(updated on April 23, 2026 — match day, MI vs CSK)
Rohit Sharma Injury Update: What Happened and How Long Has He Been Out?
The Rohit Sharma hamstring injury occurred during the MI vs RCB IPL 2026 match on April 12, when the opener was forced to retire hurt mid-innings. He had been in fine form before that — his match-winning knock against Kolkata Knight Riders gave MI their first win of the season — but the hamstring issue has kept him sidelined for two consecutive matches.
In his absence, MI brought in young opener Danish Malewar for the PBKS match and stuck with the same combination for the Gujarat Titans game, which MI won by 99 runs — their most dominant performance of IPL 2026, powered by Tilak Varma’s maiden IPL century. That result means MI’s management face a genuine tactical question: do they bring Rohit back into a winning combination, or back the XI that delivered their biggest win?
Rohit resumed light training in Ahmedabad on April 19, four days before the CSK match. He was then seen batting in the Wankhede nets on Wednesday with his right leg strapped, prioritising timing over power — a sign that the hamstring is being managed rather than fully recovered. Captain Hardik Pandya remained tight-lipped about Rohit’s availability at the last toss.
Will Rohit Sharma Play Today In MI vs CSK?
Will Rohit Sharma play today? The honest answer is that nobody outside the MI dressing room knows for certain, and the final call will come at the 7:00 PM IST toss. But here is what we can piece together from the available signals.
Signs pointing toward Rohit playing: He has been training at the Wankhede — the venue for today’s match — which removes any travel-related recovery concerns. He batted in the nets on Wednesday, facing deliveries without visible discomfort. And this is MI vs CSK at the Wankhede — the biggest fixture of MI’s season — where Rohit’s experience and big-match temperament could be the difference. If he is anywhere close to fit, the temptation to play him will be immense.
Signs pointing toward Rohit missing out: He skipped the optional training session on Tuesday, which is not the behaviour of a player confident in his body. The MI spokesperson’s language — “still being assessed” — suggests there is no definitive clearance yet. And MI won by 99 runs without him last time out, so there is a credible argument for not rushing him back into a settled XI that just delivered their best result of the season.
Is Rohit Sharma playing today’s match? The most likely scenario is a game-day fitness test before the toss, with the decision going down to how the hamstring responds to a morning session.
[To be updated at toss time with confirmed decision]
MI vs CSK Playing XI: What Changes If Rohit Returns?
If Rohit Sharma plays today, the most straightforward swap is Danish Malewar making way at the top of the order. MI’s likely XI with Rohit would be:
MI Predicted Playing XI (if Rohit plays): Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Krish Bhagat/Allah Ghazanfar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar.
MI Predicted Playing XI (if Rohit misses): Danish Malewar, Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Krish Bhagat/Allah Ghazanfar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar.
The other significant MI change regardless of Rohit’s fitness is Will Jacks coming in. The England all-rounder has joined the squad after missing the first six matches and was spotted training at the Wankhede. Jacks is expected to replace Sherfane Rutherford, offering MI a batting upgrade in the middle order plus an off-spin option.
CSK Predicted Playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel/Sarfaraz Khan, Sarfaraz Khan/Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary/Spencer Johnson, Gurjapneet Singh. Impact Player: MS Dhoni (if fit).
CSK have their own selection drama — MS Dhoni could return as an impact player after completing a full wicketkeeping and batting session earlier this week, and Spencer Johnson could make his CSK debut after being signed as the Khaleel Ahmed replacement. Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out for the season with a hamstring tear, with Urvil Patel the likely replacement at No. 3.
[Playing XIs to be confirmed at toss]
When Will Rohit Sharma Return If He Misses MI vs CSK?
If Rohit Sharma does not play today, when will he return? MI’s next fixture after the CSK match would become the target. The fact that Rohit has resumed batting — even with his leg strapped — suggests the hamstring is improving, and a few more days of recovery could be the difference between a risk and a fully fit return.
MI sit on 4 points from 6 matches — level with CSK — and are in a position where every match carries playoff weight. The MI playoffs qualification scenario demands wins, but the 99-run victory over GT proved they can compete without Rohit. The management will weigh whether one match at the Wankhede is worth the risk of turning a manageable hamstring issue into a multi-week absence.
For context, Rohit’s hamstring injury earlier this IPL season mirrors the pattern that sidelined him in IPL 2025 — he missed matches, returned too early, and broke down again. MI will be keen to avoid a repeat.
Will Rohit Sharma Play Today? The Bottom Line
So, will Rohit Sharma play today in MI vs CSK? It’s genuinely 50-50, with the decision coming at the toss. The net session with his leg strapped suggests he wants to play, but the missed Tuesday training and the “still being assessed” language from MI suggest the medical team has not cleared him yet.
If Rohit plays, he replaces Danish Malewar and opens alongside Quinton de Kock. If he misses out, MI back the XI that thrashed Gujarat Titans — and Rohit targets the next fixture. Either way, today’s El Clasico at the Wankhede — with both teams on 4 points, both fighting for playoff survival, and MS Dhoni potentially returning on the other side — will be the most consequential MI vs CSK match in years.
This article will be updated with the confirmed MI vs CSK playing XI and Rohit Sharma’s availability at toss.
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