MI & SRH Eye Escape from Mid-Table Traffic In IPL 2025

MI & SRH Eye Escape- Reaching 300 felt inevitable after the run-scoring highs of the previous season. The favourites, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), nearly succeeded on their first attempt with a score of 286 for 6. As a result, Dale Steyn, who was SRH’s bowling coach until last year, posted a “small prediction”: “The first 300 in the IPL will be seen on April 17.” I could even be present to witness it, who knows.

We are approaching April 17. Additionally, SRH takes on the Mumbai Indians (MI), the squad they first played the style of cricket that helped them place second in the 2024 Indian Premier League. Then-highest IPL total was made possible by the ultra-aggressive 60s struck by Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who were batting at No. 3.

At this point in the IPL 2025, MI and SRH are tied for fourth place after six games, with just net run-rate standing between them. This match also marks the beginning of a pivotal period for the bottom-seeded Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and both of these teams. CSK’s next two opponents are MI and SRH, who play twice in six days. The outcomes of each of these prior IPL champions may change throughout the course of the following 10 days.

New loyalties

Ishan Kishan will play against MI for SRH after spending seven seasons with them. After scoring 320 runs at a strike rate of 149 previous season, Kishan was let go by MI prior to the massive auction. Kishan was finally purchased by SRH for INR 11.25 crore after they attempted to repurchase him but withdrew from the auction at INR 3.2 crore.

Team news and likely XIIs

In their most recent match, MI had Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav in the top four. Will Jacks is not a natural fit in the lower-middle order, so if they continue with that combination, there may be a case for adding either Corbin Bosch or Bevon Jacobs. On the eve of the match, Bosch bowled for a considerable amount of time.

Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), and Naman Dhir 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Will Jacks/Corbin Bosch/Bevon Jacobs, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, and 12 Karn Sharma/Vignesh Puthur SRH enter this match fresh off a 246 chase against Punjab Kings (PBKS). They may be considering expanding their bowling alternatives. Wiaan Mulder, an all-rounder for South Africa, bowled to Abhinav Manohar and Aniket Verma in the nets on the eve of the match.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen (workweek), 6 Aniket Verma 7 Abhinav Manohar Eshan Malinga/Wiaan Mulder, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari, and Mohammed Shami

In the spotlight

Trent Boult is often an excellent pick for early wickets, which are crucial in containing a dynamic SRH batting lineup. He has only taken two wickets in the opening six overs this season. Both of those occurred during Wankhede matches. From 19 in the IPL 2024 to 36 this season, his powerplay strike rate has increased. His economy rate has also increased, rising from 7.05 to 9.1 this year.

After a strong start to the season, Ishan Kishan’s form has slowed down; in four innings played, he has three single-digit scores. However, SRH is unconcerned. “I discussed a little bit of luck, and he’s at the hardest in terms of that – in terms of [getting out caught] down the leg side and picking out a few fielders,” stated coach Daniel Vettori. He’s still the batter who hit the hundred in the opening game, in my opinion.

Pitch and conditions

Despite its reputation as a chase-friendly stadium, teams batting first have won five of the nine games played at Wankhede Stadium since the start of the 2024 Indian Premier League. Since the event will take place on Pitch No. 6, the square boundaries will be rather evenly spaced.

Stats and trivia

• In the IPL 2025 powerplay, SRH has the poorest economy rate. However, MI will have to be strong to take advantage of it. Their opening pair has only averaged 22.16, indicating that they have had difficulty getting off to a good start.

• With three dismissals for 65 runs in 58 balls, Mohammed Shami has an advantageous matchup against Rohit Sharma in the IPL. The MI skipper has a strike rate of 180 against Shami, who has also removed Hardik Pandya three times throughout the competition.

• MI can choose to silence Abhishek. Boult (two wickets for 25 runs in 26 balls), Deepak Chahar (two wickets for 19 runs in 12 balls), and Jasprit Bumrah (two wickets for 10 runs in 17 balls in the IPL) are among them.

• 300 T20 wickets are just four strikes away for Bumrah.

Quotes

“For a very long time, Mitch [Santner] has been a really good bowler. Because the batters are so aggressive in these conditions, many spinners are now turning to quick bowling in order to bowl that style. However, I believe Mitch has managed to maintain his aggressive style while altering his pace and bowling incredibly slowly. In my opinion, he poses a serious threat to any batting lineup that faces him, and he succeeds whether they are left-handed or right-handed. He will therefore be the subject of much discussion among hitters.