KOLKATA, APRIL 16, 2026: Mumbai Indians (MI) face off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a high-voltage clash on Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 PM for the 24th match of the IPL 2026 season at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. MI have a huge blow, as Rohit Sharma is doubtful for today’s match due to a hamstring injury sustained during the last match.
The two teams met last year in Qualifier 2, where both sides fought hard to qualify for the final, and PBKS qualified with a brilliant knock by skipper Shreyas Iyer, who scored 87* off 41 balls. This season, they face each other again today. The condition of MI so far has been tough. They started the season in a positive way, breaking their 13-year jinx, but after that, they lost three consecutive matches, which has pushed them to 9th position on the table with just 2 points. On the other side, PBKS are the only undefeated team this season so far. They have played 4 matches, with one match abandoned due to rain, and are currently holding the 3rd position with 7 points. MI have suffered in both departments—batting and bowling. In the last match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, they failed to chase 241 due to the quick fall of wickets, and their bowling unit was also unable to take wickets at crucial moments. On the other side, PBKS are currently in great form with both batting and bowling.
For today’s match, there is a major concern regarding Rohit Sharma. He retired hurt on 19 off 13 balls against RCB in the previous match due to a hamstring issue. Following this, he arrived late for training on Wednesday evening and only participated in light warm-ups, some jogging, and a short net session. There is a strong possibility that he may not be available for today’s match. There is still no confirmation regarding his availability for the match against Punjab Kings. Providing an update ahead of the pre-match press conference, addressed by Naman Dhir, an MI spokesperson said, “The medical staff is assessing him. An official update will be given when available.”
In IPL history, both teams have played 34 matches, with each team winning 17 times.
The squad of MI: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Sherfane Rutherford, Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma, Mohammad Izhar, Allah Ghazanfar, Jasprit Bumrah.
Mumbai Indians Predicted XI: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
PBKS Squad: Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Priyansh Arya, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Mitch Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad, Lockie Ferguson.
Punjab Kings Predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh.
The weather in Mumbai is expected to be warm and humid but clear, with no chances of rain disrupting play. During match hours, temperatures will likely around 27–28°C with high humidity levels near 70–75%, creating typical coastal conditions. The sky should remain clear throughout the evening, ensuring a full game without interruptions. However, heavy dew is likely to develop in the second innings, which can make the ball slippery and favor the chasing team, often leading to higher-scoring contests at this venue. the pitch is expected to be typically batting-friendly. The surface usually offers good bounce and carry, allowing batters to play their shots freely, especially in the powerplay. Fast bowlers may get a bit of swing early with the new ball, but as the match progresses, it becomes easier for batting. Spinners generally have a limited role here due to the flat nature of the pitch and shorter boundaries. With dew likely in the second innings, the pitch will become even better for batting. In this match, it will be interesting to see whether MI can bounce back despite the doubtful availability of Rohit Sharma, or whether PBKS will continue their unbeaten run in this exciting clash.
