Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma once again showcased his game awareness and street-smart tactics during their IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals, cleverly attempting to outfox spinner Kuldeep Yadav in a light-hearted yet strategic moment. The incident unfolded in the ninth over of the innings when Rohit tried to sweep a delivery down the leg side.

The ball was caught by wicketkeeper KL Rahul, prompting a mild appeal from the bowler and fielders. Despite a visible deflection, the on-field umpire remained unmoved, suggesting there was no clear edge. What followed added a twist to the moment. Rohit briefly began walking as if he had accepted the dismissal, only to stop midway. This subtle gesture caught the attention of DC skipper Axar Patel, who decided to opt for a DRS review.

However, replays confirmed the ball had struck Rohit’s pads, making it a wasted review for Delhi. From the commentary box, Ravi Shastri humorously suggested that Rohit had intentionally tried to trick Kuldeep into forcing a review — a theory the MI opener later acknowledged during the mid-innings break.

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“I know Kuldeep pretty well, he likes to take DRS calls,” Rohit Sharma said. “So yeah, I was just trying a little bit of luck there. It worked that time, but unfortunately, I got out in the next over. I wanted to bat deep and take the game forward, but couldn’t do that.”

MIND GAMES BY ROHIT SHARMA DURING DRS 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZTjNI0bhz1

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 4, 2026

Despite the clever mind game, Rohit’s innings was cut short soon after, as Axar Patel dismissed him, preventing Mumbai from building sustained momentum in the middle overs.

MI eventually posted 162/6 in their allotted 20 overs — a total Rohit believed was competitive given the nature of the pitch. “It’s a slow wicket. You need to spend time and then play your shots. We have a decent total on the board,” he explained.

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He also stressed the importance of early breakthroughs with the ball. “If we can pick wickets in the powerplay, we can control the game. It’s not easy to hit through the line here, and our bowlers can use that to their advantage.” Rohit’s tactical awareness and honesty once again highlighted why he remains one of the sharpest minds in modern cricket.