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MI and SRH have an opportunity to break free from their IPL struggles
MI and SRH have an opportunity to break free from their IPL struggles
IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad will clash in IPL 2025 on April 17. MI sits at number 7 and SRH is placed at 9 on the point table.
Last season saw some incredible run-scoring, making a 300 total seem inevitable. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were the favourites to achieve this milestone, and they almost did in their first attempt, scoring 286 for 6. Dale Steyn, SRH’s former bowling coach, even predicted: "April 17, we'll see the first 300 in IPL. Who knows, I might even be there to see it happen."
Now, April 17 has arrived, and SRH are set to face Mumbai Indians (MI). It was against MI that SRH first played the aggressive style of cricket that led them to a second-place finish in IPL 2024. Back then, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, batting at No. 3, smashed rapid 60s, helping SRH post the then-highest IPL score.
Currently, both MI and SRH have four points from six matches, with only the net run rate separating them on the points table. This match marks the beginning of a crucial phase for MI, SRH, and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who sit at the bottom of the table. MI and SRH will face each other twice in six days and will also play against CSK. The next ten days could play a big role in deciding the fate of these former IPL champions.
New Team, New Challenges
Ishan Kishan, after playing seven seasons for Mumbai Indians (MI), will now face them as part of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). MI didn't retain him before the mega auction, despite his 320 runs at a strike rate of 149 last season. They attempted to buy him back but withdrew at INR 3.2 crore, and SRH eventually secured him for INR 11.25 crore.
Team Updates and Possible Playing XI
In their last match, MI had Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma in their top four. If they continue with this setup, they might consider replacing Will Jacks—who isn’t naturally suited to the lower-middle order—with either Bevon Jacobs or Corbin Bosch. Bosch even had a long bowling session before the game, which could indicate his potential inclusion.
Mumbai Indians Likely XI:
Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Naman Dhir, Will Jacks / Corbin Bosch / Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Karn Sharma / Vignesh Puthur.
SRH's Momentum & Possible Adjustments
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) enter this match after successfully chasing 246 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). With their batting looking solid, they might consider strengthening their bowling attack. Ahead of the game, South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was seen bowling to Abhinav Manohar and Aniket Verma in the nets, which suggests he could be in contention for a spot.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Likely XI:
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (capt), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga / Wiaan Mulder.
Players to Watch
SRH’s batting lineup has been destructive, so Mumbai Indians (MI) will need early breakthroughs to stop them. Trent Boult, normally reliable in powerplay overs, has struggled this season—he has taken only two wickets in the first six overs so far, both at the Wankhede. His strike rate in the powerplay has gone up from 19 last year to 36 this season, and his economy rate has also risen from 7 to 9.1.
Ishan Kishan began the season strongly but has struggled recently, registering three single-digit scores in his last four completed innings. Despite this, SRH remains confident in his abilities. Coach Daniel Vettori acknowledged that Kishan has been unlucky with dismissals but believes he still has the form of the player who scored a century in the opening game.
Pitch and conditions
Wankhede Stadium has historically favoured teams chasing, but since IPL 2024 began, batting first has been more successful—five out of nine matches have been won this way. For this game, Pitch No. 6 will be used, ensuring the square boundaries are evenly spaced. This could make for an interesting contest, especially with SRH’s aggressive approach and MI’s need for early breakthroughs.
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