In a major relief to Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma had a long batting session in the nets at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with bowling coach Paras Mhambrey admitting that he is ‘fit’. However, a call on his availability for the must-win IPL 2026 fixture against Gujarat Titans will be taken at the toss on Monday.
It has been a forgettable start for the five-time champion so far, with just a solitary win in five games, and as the team gears up against a high-flying Titans outfit on a black soil surface, the focus will firmly be on getting its campaign back on track.
“It’s important to acknowledge the fact that we are in this situation. And we need to work as a unit to come out of this,” Mhambrey said. “I can assure you that we are working on it. There is no panic in the team. It’s a tough format. If you don’t turn up and play your best cricket, you are not going to win.”
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While Quinton de Kock stepped in for Rohit and scored a ton, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have been inconsistent so far. In a must-win situation, the team management, as suggested by captain Hardik Pandya, may need tough calls. Mhambrey, however, did not elaborate on the possible changes.
Bowling remains a concern, with none of the star recruits making a telling impact so far in the competition. Mitchell Santner is fit and expected to return against the Titans. “Santner is fit. Unlucky we missed him last game. He picked up a bug,” Mhambrey said.
With five wins from eight games, Titans hold the edge. Shubman Gill has led from the front with consistent runs, while Jos Buttler has chipped in with key fifties. Rashid Khan and Prasidh Krishna have impressed in the middle overs and will look to exploit MI’s struggles.
Published on Apr 19, 2026