Why is Rohit Sharma not playing in LSG vs MI IPL 2025 clash? Hardik Pandya makes shocking announcement

Superstar batter and former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the big clash between Hardik Pandya-led MI and Rishabh Pant's Lucknow Super Giants in match 16 of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which is being played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, on April 4 (Friday). Hardik during toss revealed that Rohit is injured and that is why he will be missing the game.

Rohit out of LSG clash

Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bowl first. Rohit Sharma will be unavailable in this game as he was hit on the knee. Akash Deep will be making his return for the team finally and provide much much-needed boost to the team's bowling. MI and LSG are currently placed 6th and 7th in the points table, respectively. Both teams have played three games and have won just one game. They will be eyeing to add more wins to their tally.

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"We are gonna bowl first. Looks like a fresh wicket. Not sure how it is going to play. Looks a decent track. Dew might come in later. Thought better to chase. I think we in a group have spoken that we don't want to talk about the wickets. We are here to play good cricket. That's the talk we have. Let's not talk about the surfaces. I think adaptation. Sticking to right plans and being smart. Lot of runs are being scored. Cricket is situation based. Rohit was hit on the knee. He is missing out. Jasprit should be back soon," said Hardik Pandya after winning the toss.

"I think we are pretty confident as a batting unit. A very strong unit. Few of our players haven't come off including me. We had talked to play in this fashion throughout the tournament. The general discussion is to go our there and express yourself. We haven't talked about target we want to achieve. Just play the ball and watch the ball and react. I think we are pretty confident. The way I have set up myself. Once we get a start, we will capitalize. Just one change for us. Akash Deep comes in for Siddharth," said Rishabh Pant

LSG vs MI Playing XIs

Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan

Mumbai Indians: Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Vignesh Puthur