Rohit’s fitness doubt
- Rohit Sharma underwent a fitness test at Narendra Modi Stadium ahead of a match, casting doubt on his availability. - Reports say a hamstring issue gives him low chances of playing the Gujarat Titans versus Mumbai Indians game. - The test and media reaction were widely shared on social platforms as the squads prepared (x.com).
Rohit Sharma’s place in Mumbai Indians’ lineup was still unsettled on Monday, with a pre-match fitness check in Ahmedabad keeping his return in doubt. (indianexpress.com) The Indian Express reported that Rohit, 38, was due to reach Narendra Modi Stadium early to test a right hamstring he injured against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 12. He retired hurt on 19 in that match and then missed Mumbai’s next game against Punjab Kings. (indianexpress.com) Mumbai Indians bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said on Sunday that Rohit was “fit” and back batting in the nets, but he did not publicly lock in the playing XI before the Gujarat Titans game. A separate video from Ahmedabad showed Rohit batting in practice on April 19. (espncricinfo.com) (thesportstak.com) The uncertainty landed in the middle of a poor Mumbai start. Mumbai entered the match with 1 win and 4 losses from 5 games, for 2 points and a net run rate of -1.076, while Gujarat had 3 wins from 5 matches. (ipl.com) (espncricinfo.com) Rohit’s absence matters because he has been Mumbai’s steadiest top-order batter this season. He had scored 137 runs in 4 innings at a strike rate above 165 before the hamstring problem interrupted his run. (indianexpress.com) (thesportstak.com) Indian Express reported that hamstring injuries typically need at least eight days for full recovery, which is why early reports described Rohit’s chances of playing on April 20 as slim. Other outlets later pointed to Mhambrey’s update and framed the decision as one for closer to the toss. (indianexpress.com) (news.abplive.com) That gap between medical clearance and match readiness drove the noise around the story. Fans circulated clips of Rohit’s drills and net session across social platforms while Mumbai weighed whether to risk a senior batter in Match 30 of a season already slipping early. (thesportstak.com) (espncricinfo.com) By the time Mumbai and Gujarat reached the toss, the question was no longer whether Rohit could bat in the nets. It was whether Mumbai thought one more hamstring test was worth the risk. (indianexpress.com)
