Rohit Sharma’s absence big blow as MI host PBKS:Can Surya, Tilak replicate last year’s form as Mumbai look to end Punjab’s unbeaten run?

Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to lock horns with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in what promises to be a mouth-watering contest in IPL 2026 on Thursday, 16 April. Both teams have had quite the contrasting campaigns thus far and will look to put on a show at the Wankhede Stadium. The match starts at 7:30 PM IST with the toss scheduled for 7:00 PM. PBKS and MI find themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum on the IPL 2026 points table. Punjab Kings, the only unbeaten team in IPL 2026, are at the second spot on the points table with seven points from four matches. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are rooted to the ninth spot, having had a hat-trick of losses after starting their campaign with a win. Ahead of the PBKS match, the Mumbai Indians received a big blow with Rohit Sharma reportedly not playing the match. The Hitman had suffered a hamstring injury, which saw him retire out in the match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and subsequently underwent scans. Rohit did train with the MI players but as per Cricbuzz, will miss the match against the Punjab Kings. And MI might include Quinton de Kock to partner Ryan Rickelton at the top of the order. MI vs PBKS match details Match info: Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings, match 24
Date Time: 16 April, 2026, 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM)
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
How to watch: JioHotstar Star Sports
How to follow: Follow the live coverage on the Bhaskar English App MI vs PBKS head-to-head record Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have had a pretty even rivalry so far in the IPL. They have played 34 matches against each other and both teams have shared the spoils with 17 wins each. MI and PBKS have delivered some sensational contests in the IPL, one of which was a double Super Over thriller in 2020. Also read: Virat, Rasikh help RCB thrash LSG by 5 wickets: Champions jump to top of points table with emphatic victory Shreyas Iyer, Vyshak key for PBKS’ hopes Shreyas Iyer and Vyshak Vijaykumar have been the best players for the Punjab Kings thus far. Iyer has hit 137 runs in four matches so far, including two half-centuries and has had a strike rate of 187.67. Vyshak, on the other hand, has been the highest wicket-taker for PBKS thus far. The right-arm pacer has picked up five wickets in four matches and will look to continue his form against the Mumbai Indians as well. Rickelton, Thakur shining lights for MI so far While MI have had a horrible campaign, Ryan Rickelton and Shardul Thakur have stood out as their best players. The South African wicketkeeper-batter has struck 137 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 168.75 and with Rohit’s availability uncertain, MI would need him to fire big time against PBKS. Shardul Thakur has led MI’s efforts with the ball with five wickets in four matches so far. The all-rounder has a knack for picking up key wickets and the five-time champions would hope that he delivers on 16 April. Chahal has slight edge over Suryakumar
Yuzvendra Chahal has seemingly had a slight edge in his battle with Suryakumar Yadav. The leg-spinner has bowled 88 balls to Surya, conceding 116 runs at an economy of 7.90 while dismissing him four times. Suryakumar has managed to have a strike rate of 131.81. Bumrah vs Shreyas Iyer battle could decide MI vs PBKS match One of the most fascinating player battles to look forward to is the one between Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer. Not many would forget how Iyer had opened the face of the bat to glide a Bumrah yorker for a four last year in Qualifier 2. In the IPL, Shreyas has faced 57 balls bowled by Bumrah, wherein he has scored 74 runs. The PBKS captain has had a strike rate of 129.82 with Bumrah dismissing him just once. Bumrah is wicketless so far this season and it will be interesting to see whether he breaks his streak this time. Wankhede Stadium pitch report The Wankhede Stadium has produced some high scores in IPL 2026 and there’s no reason why another such match cannot be expected, especially with some of the most explosive hitters in both teams. Teams which win the toss generally opt to chase, and dew likely to play a role later on in the second innings. Mumbai weather report The skies in Mumbai will be clear for this match and there is no forecast of rain. The temperature for this match will hover between 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. The atmosphere is expected to be humid.