3 MI batters who could replace injured Rohit Sharma in IPL 2026

Rohit Sharma is expected to miss multiple matches for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the ongoing IPL 2026 season because of the hamstring injury he sustained on April 12 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium.

Sharma is the designated opener for the team. If he remains unavailable to play a few matches due to injury, then the Mumbai Indians will have to change their opening combination. In IPL 2025 and for the ongoing season, the team has a fixed opening combination with Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton.

As the former Team India and former MI captain is uncertain to feature in the next few matches, the team management will have to find someone suitable who can pair up with Rickelton at the top of the batting order.

3 possible names who can be the replacement for Rohit Sharma:

1. Quinton de Kock: The seasoned batter is the best available option in the MI squad who could easily replace Sharma to pair up with Ryan Rickelton. Since reconsidering international retirement, the 33-year-old has been in stunning form for both South Africa and franchise teams. Before joining MI ahead of the IPL 2026 season, de Kock had previously played for the same franchise in three back-to-back editions: IPL 2019, IPL 2020-21, and IPL 2021.

In the 2020 season, when Mumbai lifted their fifth Indian Premier League trophy, the opener played a crucial role, scoring 503 runs for an average of 35.92. As Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton are both from South Africa and have played a lot for the national team, they are well aware of their batting styles. 

2. Will Jacks: The England international can be utilized as an opener. The versatile player, who can contribute both with bat and ball, played a match as an opener in the IPL 2025 campaign. But the main concern over Will Jacks is his availability. As of now, he is yet to join the Mumbai Indians. MI batting coach Kieron Pollard stated that the batting all-rounder is expected to join the camp soon.

Read More: Two cities lead race as front-runners to host IPL 2026 playoffs, BCCI to take final call

“We’re expecting Will Jacks very soon. As you alluded to, fitness issues, to my knowledge, I don’t know anything about that. We are a team made up of over 20 members. And at this point, he’s not here. But we’ll be here soon,” Pollard told the media.

“And hopefully when he’s here as well, his economy will be low, he will get wickets, and he will score runs just for you,’ he added.

Will Jacks as an opener in IPL:

 3. Suryakumar Yadav: Before cementing his place as a middle-order batter in the Twenty20 format, Suryakumar Yadav had played multiple matches as an opener for the Mumbai Indians. As an opener, the right-handed batter has played 19 matches as an opener in the Indian Premier League. During the 2018 season, Yadav played 12 matches as an opener, and 5 matches as an opener in the 2025 season. 

Suryakumar Yadav as an opener in IPL: