Rohit Sharma likely to miss Punjab Kings match

Rohit Sharma is likely to miss Thursday's game against Punjab Kings because of hamstring issues. The extent of the injury, sustained during Mumbai Indians' previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is not yet clear. The official position is the player is under observation.

"The medical team is assessing him, and a decision will be taken before the match," a spokesperson for the franchise said on the eve of the game.

Rohit injured his hamstring during the second innings of the match against RCB and retired hurt in the sixth over of the run chase. He was taken for scans, and there are differing accounts on whether there is a tear.

As things stand, sources indicate that the management may opt to rest him. Cricbuzz @L0$ on Wednesday, the MI management may choose to err on the side of caution given the long season ahead.

On the eve of the match, Rohit was absent from the nets. It was, of course, an optional session, and several others - including Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult - also skipped it. However, Rohit's absence may not have been routine. On Wednesday evening, he showed up at the Wankhede trying to do a bit of running. But he did not appear too comfortable, occasionally clutching his right thigh.

Rohit has been one of the in-form players in the MI setup, and his likely absence will be an unwanted setback for a team that is slipping in the race for a top-four finish in the points table. He has scored 137 runs in four games and has looked in good touch, particularly in the match against RCB before retiring hurt.

With Rohit's availability uncertain, Naman Dhir may be promoted up the batting order, like in the past. However, the player said while he is prepared for the move, he has not been informed of any such plan yet.

"Nothing like that has happened so far. The management is aware of everything, so we'll know tomorrow what the batting order looks like. I'm ready to bat anywhere-higher up or lower down. I've done it before, at No. 5 or No. 7, so I'm prepared for any role," Dhir said.

In the match against Lucknow Super Giants last season, Dhir batted at No. 3 and he made an immediate impact with a quickfire 46. Will Jacks and Ryan Rickelton had opened the innings in that game.

Meanwhile, an MI spokesperson confirmed - as this website's earlier report - that Jacks will be arriving in Mumbai on Wednesday.