IPL 2021: Will Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya play against KKR?

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya didn’t feature in their side’s first game of the second half against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and absence of their main players didn’t help the defending champions as they lost the game by 20 runs.

Asked during the match why both players missed out from the playing XI, coach Mahela Jayawardene said that they left out both of them as a precautionary measure and hoped that both of them will be ready for the game against Kolkata Knight Riders, on Thursday, September 23.

Jayawardene while talking about Rohit had said, “Rohit was batting and doing his running as well, but after coming back from the UK, we felt that, he probably needed an extra few days, so should be fine to play the next game.” While saying that Hardik had got a niggle during the training, but it was nothing serious.

However, MI pacer Trent Boult didn’t sound too confident about them playing the game against KKR in the pre-match press conference.

“They are both recovering very well. In terms of their selection for the next game, I’m not too sure what’s going on there. But day by day, they are improving,” Boult had said adding that it was a good decision to leave him out and make sure that he is 100 percent fit given the amount of cricket coming in the latter part of the year.

While there are questions on the availability of both players, but the video posted by Mumbai Indians on the morning of the match suggested that the skipper could be drafted into the playing XI. Rohit previewing the game against KKR said that the past and the history doesn’t matter (MI have won 22 games against KKR in 28 encounters) and T20 cricket is all about what you do on the given day and said that they can’t take KKR lightly especially given that they are coming off from a huge 9-wicket win against RCB.

“It’s important that we turn up and do the job!” 

Captain Ro previews #MIvKKR #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPL2021 #KhelTakaTak @ImRo45 @MXTakaTak MI TV pic.twitter.com/HxomGIvAHC

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 23, 2021

Mumbai Indians are currently in fourth place in the points table with four wins and as many losses while KKR have three wins and five losses and are currently in the sixth position.