Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Saturday confirmed that both Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma have battled fitness issues through IPL 2026, directly affecting the five-time champions' campaign as they prepare for their final league match against the Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. Jayawardene said Bumrah did not get adequate recovery time after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup held in February–March 2026, while Rohit was slowed by a hamstring injury that cost him several matches.

Rohit Sharma's Injury-Hit Campaign

Rohit Sharma, the most decorated batter and captain in IPL history, entered the season as one of Mumbai Indians' most relied-upon match-winners. He opened with a half-century in the team's first match but managed just 283 runs in 8 matches across the campaign, a tally well below his usual standards.

A hamstring injury forced him out of several games, and there were occasions when the veteran was named as an impact substitute rather than a starter. Jayawardene said the playing XI is assembled by weighing multiple factors specific to each match, and that Rohit accepts that framework.

'Yes, he had a hamstring injury. We gave him the time that he needed to recover, and then he came back. We were cautious even with his batting, the way he was running, because he had to adapt slowly, gradually coming back into it,' Jayawardene said.

Bumrah's Workload and Gradual Build-Up

Jasprit Bumrah, who was central to India's T20 World Cup triumph, arrived at the IPL carrying a slight niggle he had played through during the tournament. Jayawardene said the management gave him adequate rest before reintegrating him, which explains both his reduced pace in the early weeks and his modest returns of just 4 wickets in 13 matches.

'Coming back from the World Cup, he had a slight niggle which he played with through the World Cup, so we gave him adequate rest to come back,' Jayawardene explained, adding that Bumrah's lower pace in the initial phase was a deliberate, gradual build-up rather than a sign of form loss.

The Broader Impact on Mumbai Indians

The unavailability and inconsistency of their two marquee players has been a significant factor in Mumbai Indians' underwhelming IPL 2026 campaign. The team, chasing a record-extending sixth title, enters the final league game against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium with their playoff prospects under pressure.

Notably, this is not the first time MI have faced a crunch final league fixture with their core players managing fitness — a pattern that underlines the growing tension between international scheduling and franchise demands.

What Jayawardene Said About Team Selection

Jayawardene was clear that his selection process is insulated from India national team considerations. 'To be honest, I don't think about the Indian team or what their requirements are when I am assembling a team for the Mumbai Indians. I set it up, and Rohit understands that he is a team player. He understands what is required for the Mumbai Indians, and we go about it,' he said.

The head coach's remarks suggest that both Bumrah and Rohit's roles in the XI have been managed conservatively, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term selection — a call that may define MI's off-season review as much as their final league result.