Rohit Sharma Skips Practice Game Ahead Of MI's IPL Opener. Here's Why

Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma did not take part in any practice game ahead of Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2024 opener against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. Mumbai Indians played their first intra-squad practice game behind closed doors in Mumbai on Wednesday before departing for Ahmedabad. However, Rohit was not part of the match and a release from the franchise stated that the star batter is currently undergoing “customised training program that involves simulated net sessions, mobility and strength and conditioning sessions” ahead of the new season.

“Rohit Sharma, who joined the squad on Monday, is on a customized training program that involves simulated net sessions, mobility and strength and conditioning sessions, for the past 3 days, hence stayed back in Mumbai to focus on his pre-season program. Rohit did not take part in the practice game,” said MI in an official release.

Rohit, who recently led India to a historic Test victory over England on home soil, will be available for the game against Gujarat Titans and will join the team later in Ahmedabad.

Earlier, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma hugged it out during a practice session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

The all-rounder is set to captain Mumbai Indians (MI), replacing their five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy-winning skipper Rohit Sharma in the 2024 season of the cash-rich league.

In November last year, Pandya moved back from Gujarat Titans (GT) to his former franchise as part of a trade between both franchises.

The star all-rounder spent two momentous years with GT, spearheading their campaign in the cash-rich league with aplomb. In GT’s debut season in 2022, Hardik got them off to a fairytale start, with the team lifting the coveted trophy.

(With ANI inputs)