“He [Rohit] just had mild back stiffness, so it was a precautionary thing [playing as an Impact Player],” Chawla said. 

This was for the first time since taking over MI captaincy from Rohit that Pandya was leading the team when the former captain was not on the field. Rohit’s name was included in the team sheet among five Impact Substitutes as MI opted to bowl first. In pursuit of KKR’s 169, Rohit, who will be leading India’s challenge in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, opened the innings with Ishan Kishan (13) and scored 12-ball 11 before being dismissed by Sunil Narine while trying to sweep. Manish Pandey took a good catch at midwicket.