MI bat first at Wankhede as Rohit Sharma sits out Match 41 vs SRH
Synopsis
Mumbai Indians reset their combination at the Wankhede with Rohit Sharma still sidelined and Quinton de Kock nursing a wrist injury. Hardik Pandya's side brings in fresh faces — Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Robin Minz, Trent Boult — in a bid to arrest their recent form struggles. Sunrisers counter with Travis Head and Harsh Dubey as both franchises search for answers mid-tournament.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat at the Wankhede Stadium on 29 April 2026 .
Rohit Sharma remains unavailable; captain Hardik Pandya confirmed he will miss Match 41 and requires a couple more games to regain full fitness.
Quinton de Kock is sidelined with a wrist injury; Ryan Rickelton steps in as wicketkeeper.
Mumbai also bring in Will Jacks , Robin Minz , and Trent Boult ; Mitchell Santner is unavailable due to injury.
Sunrisers Hyderabad draft Travis Head and Harsh Dubey to fine-tune their Wankhede combination.
Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 41 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, 29 April. Captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that opening batter Rohit Sharma remains unavailable, with the franchise opting to give the star batter additional recovery time before his return to competitive cricket.
Mumbai's lineup adjustments
Mumbai Indians have made four changes to their squad, bringing in Ryan Rickelton (replacing Quinton de Kock, who sustained a wrist injury), Will Jacks, Robin Minz, and Trent Boult. Shardul Thakur and Krish Bhagat also miss out. The franchise has also adjusted for an earlier injury to Mitchell Santner.
Sunrisers' tactical tweaks
Sunrisers Hyderabad have drafted in Travis Head and Harsh Dubey, replacing Aniket Verma and Shivang Kumar respectively. Captain Pat Cummins indicated the changes were made to fine-tune the combination for the Wankhede pitch, which he described as having
Point of View
Pandya is now leading a reshaped XI that looks less like a championship contender and more like a mid-season scramble. The 'reset' he speaks of sounds less like strategy and more like damage control.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rohit Sharma not playing in Match 41?
Rohit Sharma remains unavailable due to fitness concerns. Captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that Sharma has been attempting to return but is not yet at the level he expects. Pandya stated Sharma will require a couple more games before making his comeback.
Who replaced Quinton de Kock in the Mumbai Indians lineup?
Ryan Rickelton has stepped in as wicketkeeper-batter, replacing Quinton de Kock , who suffered a wrist injury ahead of the match.
What changes did Sunrisers Hyderabad make?
Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in Travis Head and Harsh Dubey , replacing Aniket Verma and Shivang Kumar respectively. Captain Pat Cummins indicated the adjustments were made to better suit the Wankhede pitch conditions.
Why did Mumbai Indians elect to bat first?
Captain Hardik Pandya cited the evening conditions at the Wankhede , describing it as cold and breezy . He noted that dew was unlikely to be a significant factor, making batting first an attractive option to post a strong total.
