Once languishing near the bottom of the IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) table, Mumbai Indians (MI) have made a brilliant comeback, reviving their playoff chances with a series of solid performances. The five-time champions, who began their campaign with four losses in their first five games, now hold the fourth spot in the points table after registering six consecutive victories.
Following their most recent loss to the Gujarat Titans, they find themselves with 14 points from 12 games, along with a positive net run rate (NRR) of 1.156, and are in contention for a playoff berth. Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar opened up on Mumbai’s comeback and praised the team’s ability to regroup and overcome early-season challenges.
“Suryakumar Yadav is having one of his best IPL seasons. And when it comes to high-pressure situations, MI have players who thrive—Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and even Rohit Sharma, despite his recent form. That’s why they’ve been serial winners. Like CSK had Shane Watson or Mike Hussey come up big in critical moments, MI have their own match-winners. It’s this knack for rising to the occasion that makes them such a dangerous side,” Manjrekar said on JioHotstar.
Managed to slot players into right roles: Manjrekar
Notably, Mumbai’s match-winners have been crucial in their turnaround. Suryakumar Yadav’s form has strengthened the batting line-up, while Jasprit Bumrah has dominated with the ball since making his return. Despite some overseas players being unavailable for crucial matches, Sanjay Manjrekar believes MI’s strength lies in how they slot players into the right roles and deliver under pressure.
“I’m not sure their campaign will be derailed, even with a few overseas players like Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks potentially unavailable for key games. They’ve managed to slot players into the right roles. At the start, they looked a bit unsure, but now they seem to have clarity,” he added.
The side’s remaining league fixtures against Delhi Capitals (May 21) and Punjab Kings (May 26) will be crucial, and victories in both games would guarantee a spot in the playoffs. However, a single win may still push them into the top four if other results go their way, thanks to their strong net run rate.
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