Harbhajan Singh Reflects on Rohit Sharma's Injury Impact on Mumbai Indians' IPL 2026 Campaign

In a recent discussion, Harbhajan Singh expressed his disappointment over Rohit Sharma's injury, suggesting that an earlier recovery could have positively influenced the Mumbai Indians' performance in IPL 2026. Following Rohit's impressive return with an 84-run innings against Lucknow Super Giants, MI ended their losing streak. However, the team still faces challenges in securing a playoff spot. Harbhajan emphasized the importance of Rohit's on-field presence and the potential for MI to qualify if they win their remaining matches. This article delves into the implications of Rohit's injury and MI's current standings in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 5, 2026, 18:49 IST

Harbhajan's Thoughts on Rohit's Injury

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh expressed his regret that Rohit Sharma's injury did not heal sooner, suggesting that it could have enabled the Mumbai Indians (MI) to secure additional victories in their recent matches during the IPL 2026 season. His remarks followed Rohit's impressive comeback performance, where he scored 84 runs against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), leading MI to a six-wicket victory and breaking their three-match losing streak.

Rohit's Stellar Performance

In his comeback match, Rohit opened the innings alongside Ryan Rickelton, who scored 83 runs off just 32 balls. Rohit managed to hit 84 runs off 44 deliveries, including six fours and seven sixes, forming a remarkable partnership of 143 runs in just 65 balls, which was crucial in chasing down a target of 229 runs.

Impact of Rohit's Absence

Rohit had previously suffered a hamstring injury during a match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 12. Following his injury, MI played five matches, winning only one, which severely impacted their chances of qualifying for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

Harbhajan's Insights on MI's Future

During a discussion on JioStar, Harbhajan noted that MI's campaign could have been more successful had Rohit returned from injury sooner. He emphasized that winning all remaining matches could still keep MI's playoff hopes alive, potentially reaching 14 points, although qualification would depend on other teams' performances and net run rate.

"I wish his injury had healed a little earlier; who knows, they might have won a game or two during that losing streak and would have still been alive in the competition. They will give themselves a chance if they win every game from here and get to 14 points. Who knows, if other teams start losing, there could be a net run-rate situation at 14 points, anything can happen," Harbhajan remarked.

Rohit's On-Field Contribution

Harbhajan highlighted the significance of Rohit's presence on the field, stating that his performance was pivotal in laying the groundwork for MI's chase against LSG. He remarked that while a century would have been ideal, Rohit's contribution was exceptional and minimized the workload for his teammates.

"It's important to be in the middle. You can do only so much sitting in the dugout. But you can make a difference by being in the middle, and Rohit Sharma did exactly that. You needed that foundation to chase down that many runs, and he didn't just lay the foundation, but built a couple of floors on it as well, leaving very little for the rest to do. It would have been even better if he had gotten his hundred, but for the time he was there, he played exceptionally well," Harbhajan stated.

Current Standings of MI

Despite their recent victory over LSG, MI currently ranks ninth in the IPL 2026 points table, having secured only three wins out of ten matches. The only team below them is LSG, which has managed just two wins in nine matches so far.