Rohit Sharma's absence from Mumbai Indians' lineup in their IPL 2025 fixture against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday, April 4, sparked widespread speculation among fans. The match, held at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, saw the veteran opener left out of the playing XI, prompting debates over whether he was dropped due to form or rested due to injury.
Rohit has endured a challenging start to the season, scoring just 21 runs across three matches at an average of 7 and a strike rate of 105. Despite the dip in form, he appeared to be in good spirits ahead of the LSG clash, engaging with fellow cricketers Rishabh Pant and Shardul Thakur during the practice session.
However, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya clarified the situation in the pre-match briefing, stating that Rohit had been struck on the knee during a net session and was rested as a precaution.
"Rohit was hit on the knee during practice. He is missing out," said Hardik, putting to rest rumors of a potential axing.
Former cricketer S. Badrinath also weighed in on the matter through social media platform X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that the decision was not performance-related.
"Not a drop, but a break," Badrinath posted, defending the MI stalwart.
While fans took to social media with mixed reactions—some expressing concern, others joking at Rohit's expense—the general sentiment suggests that this break could serve as a timely opportunity for the Indian opener to reassess his form and return stronger.
MI batting coach Kieron Pollard also backed Rohit, emphasizing that a few low scores don't define a player of his caliber.
LSG vs MI: Playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan
Mumbai Indians: Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Vignesh Puthur, Trent Boult
As the season progresses, MI fans will be hopeful that Rohit recovers quickly and rediscovers his form, playing a key role in their campaign. Until then, all eyes will remain on team management’s strategy and how MI adapts in his absence.
