As the IPL 2025 season hits its mid-point, Mumbai Indians (MI) are desperate to find consistency, and much of that responsibility rests on the shoulders of two of their most experienced campaigners — Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah — when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Both sides have endured a turbulent run so far, with just two wins each from six matches. The outcome of Thursday’s clash could prove pivotal in shaping the trajectory of their respective campaigns.
Rohit Sharma, the talismanic opener, has struggled to find rhythm this season. Scoring just 56 runs from five innings at an average of 11.20, his aggressive intent hasn’t translated into consistent runs. Yet, MI has shown faith in his approach, banking on the hope that the familiar Wankhede surface might spark a revival. Against a strong SRH pace battery led by Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami, Rohit’s role in anchoring the top order will be vital if MI aim to post or chase down a daunting total.
While Rohit’s form with the bat is under scrutiny, Bumrah’s performances with the ball have also raised questions. Returning from injury, the star pacer had a tidy outing against RCB but was taken apart by Karun Nair in the previous game, leaking 44 runs. With SRH boasting power-hitters like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Ishan Kishan, Bumrah’s death-over accuracy and early breakthroughs will be crucial for MI to contain the opposition.
The Wankhede pitch is expected to play true with good bounce and short boundaries, suggesting another high-scoring thriller is on the cards. But MI’s bowling, outside of Bumrah, hasn’t inspired confidence. Trent Boult and Reece Topley have shown flashes of form but remain inconsistent, while the spin department, featuring Mitchell Santner and Karn Sharma, has yet to make a major impact.
On the brighter side, MI have seen encouraging signs in the form of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. Tilak, especially, has been a revelation in the middle order, scoring back-to-back fifties and showing maturity and flair under pressure. Suryakumar, known for his 360-degree stroke play, remains a key figure in MI’s batting arsenal.
Naman Dhir has also impressed with his fearless lower-order hitting and athleticism in the field, while the team continues to experiment with combinations to find a winning formula under the leadership of Hardik Pandya.
SRH, meanwhile, come into this clash with momentum on their side. They pulled off a record run-chase against Punjab Kings, thanks largely to Abhishek Sharma’s stunning 141. The left-hander has been in red-hot form, and alongside the explosive Travis Head and the ever-reliable Klaasen, forms a formidable top order. Add to that Ishan Kishan, who returns to his former home ground with a point to prove, and SRH look capable of taking any attack apart.
With Pat Cummins marshalling the bowlers and Shami providing his usual dose of accuracy and swing, SRH have a balanced unit. Harshal Patel’s variations and Rahul Chahar’s wrist spin could also prove handy on the Wankhede pitch, especially in the middle overs.
As both teams look to break away from the bottom half of the table, the spotlight will firmly be on the veterans. Can Rohit find his touch on home turf? Will Bumrah silence critics with a vintage spell? Thursday’s showdown in Mumbai could well be a turning point in both their seasons.
Match Info:
·Fixture: Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
·Date: Thursday, April 17
·Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
·Broadcast: Star Sports Network
·Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Squads:
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Shrijith Krishnan (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, VS Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Smaran Ravichandran, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Travis Head, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga.
