The five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), will take on the Punjab Kings in the 61st game of the ongoing IPL 2025. The game will be played on Sunday, May 11, at 3:30 PM (IST). However, there is still a conundrum on the final venue for this game owing to the cross-border turmoil between India and Pakistan, and Dharamsala is just 60 km away from the Pakistan border. So, the authorities are looking forward to changing the venue for this game.
It is a must-win and all-important game for the Mumbai Indians to strengthen their chances for the tournament’s knockout stage. They are currently in the fourth spot in the tournament standings, with seven wins and five defeats in their 11 games so far, having 14 points to their credit. MI are coming off a narrow 3-wicket defeat against GT in their last game, following four consecutive wins in the four games. A win in this game will help them move up to the top spot in the tally owing to their brilliant net run rate.
The predicted playing XI of the Mumbai Indians for their upcoming clash against the Punjab Kings:
Openers
Mumbai Indians might opt to go with the same opening pair of wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton and the batting stalwart, Rohit Sharma. However, the duo failed to stitch a strong opening partnership in the last game against GT. But they have been in a brilliant run of form in the earlier games in the tournament.
Rohit has smashed three half-centuries in his last five innings in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025, scoring 76*, 70, and 53 against CSK, SRH, and RR. On the other hand, Rickelton has also scored two half-centuries in his last five appearances.
Middle-Order
The middle order of the Mumbai Indians will start with the star in-form batter, Will Jacks, at number three. He played a crucial half-century knock against GT, scoring 53 runs off 35 balls, with five fours and three sixes. However, his efforts went in vain as MI lost the game by 3 wickets in the end. He will be followed by star batter Suryakumar Yadav at number four.
Suryakumar Yadav scored 35 runs off 24 balls, with five fours. He has also been in a brilliant run of form with the bat in the tournament’s current season. Later in the middle order, Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir will be there to bat at numbers five and six.
All-Rounders
Skipper Hardik Pandya and star South Africa all-rounder Corbin Bosch will be there in the role of the specialist all-rounders in the MI playing XI for the game against Punjab Kings. Both the all-rounders could also be the crucial assets, both with the bat and the ball.
Corbin Bosch scored crucial 27 runs off 22 balls, with one four and two sixes to help his side go past 150+ total, scoring 155 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. So, it will be a good all-rounder duo for MI in this game.
Bowlers
The Mumbai Indians might look forward to going with the out-and-out pace attack, including four pacers, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ashwani Kumar. Star pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant spell, scalping 2 wickets at just 19 runs in his 4 overs, alongside 2 wickets scalped at just 22 runs in his four overs. Besides these two, young pacer Ashwani Kumar also picked up 2 wickets at 28 runs in his four overs.
Deepak Chahar also bagged 1 wicket at 32 runs in his three overs. The pace quartet is expected to be accompanied by the batting all-rounder Will Jacks as a spinner to contribute with a few crucial overs in the middle of the innings, be it in the first innings or while defending the target. Apart from that, the specialist spinner Karn Sharma might also be brought in as an impact player, replacing Rohit Sharma or vice-versa, depending on whether MI are batting first or chasing the target.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
For more exclusive updates, visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your favorite remarkable cricket players and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!
