Rohit returns with 84-run blast but can Mumbai Indians still make playoffs in 2026?

Rohit Sharma scored 84 runs off 44 balls in his comeback match for Mumbai Indians against Lucknow Super Giants on May 5, 2026.

Rohit's return to action Rohit Sharma has consistently scored big runs in the IPL throughout his career, failing to reach 350 runs in just five out of 18 seasons before 2026. Even after adopting a more aggressive approach earlier in matches, he continued his run-scoring form by amassing 417 runs in 14 innings in 2024 and 418 runs in 15 innings in 2025. His absence from five games between April 12 and May 4, 2026, proved costly for Mumbai Indians. On May 5, Rohit made a strong return, smashing 84 runs off 44 deliveries against the Lucknow Super Giants. ## Expert analysis on Rohit's performance Sanjay Bangar praised Rohit's striking ability and aggression during the match, noting his timing and power. "Good to see him striking the ball so well and going through the line, playing those shots over the covers and even against spin. I think he's just made up his mind to get into that habit of hitting those sixes, which he has done quite well, and it was on full display tonight," Bangar said while analyzing Rohit's innings and Ryan Rickelton's 83 off 32 balls. Together, they added 143 runs for the first wicket in under 11 overs. ## Powerplay dominance and six-hitting trend Rohit hit seven sixes, while Rickelton struck eight, including three sixes in the powerplay against bowlers Mohammed Shami and Avesh Khan. Overall, Rohit hit five sixes against pace bowling and two against left-arm spinner M Siddharth. Bangar emphasized the growing importance of openers who can clear the boundary in the first six overs, calling it a shift in T20 strategy. "Teams from here on will look at openers who can hit sixes inside the first six overs and that's where the T20 game is heading. In this particular season, and even in the previous season, you've got enough evidence of that style of batsmanship actually setting up wins for the team and those have been far more impactful rather than those coming at the lower end of the innings. That is a paradigm shift." ## Rohit's role in modernizing his game Rohit Sharma, one of the senior players in the game, has adapted his batting style to stay relevant in the evolving format. With Rickelton and Quinton de Kock as other senior openers, Mumbai Indians had options to replace him during his absence due to a hamstring injury. However, the team struggled to field both overseas openers simultaneously, often needing an extra bowler. As a result, Danish Malewar played in two matches, while Rickelton featured in just one game alongside de Kock. ## Challenges in Mumbai Indians' top order Veda Krishnamurthy highlighted the difficulties Mumbai Indians faced without Rohit at the top, especially with their bowling lineup underperforming. "They were not able to play Quinton and Rickelton together because they needed an extra bowler when it comes to overseas players, because your Indian bowlers were not doing well. Deepak Chahar was not looking at his best, so they needed Trent Boult, but Trent Boult didn't deliver as well. So the experience at the top is very important. Your openers need to be good and the openers that they tried, it was either Rickelton or Quinton de Kock opening with Danish Malewar. That kind of hurts because you talk about like-to-like replacements - you do not have an opener [in the squad], an experienced opener, an Indian opener [like Rohit]." ## MI's playoff hopes and Rohit's impact Mumbai Indians sit at ninth place on the points table, having won just one of their first four matches before Rohit's injury. Out of their three victories this season, two featured significant innings from Rohit: 78 off 38 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders and his latest performance on May 5. As the team pushes for a late playoff push, they will rely heavily on Rohit maintaining his recent form. Rohit alone cannot solve all of Mumbai Indians' problems, but his return has given the franchise renewed hope.