The first official knockout match of IPL 2025 will be played today in Mullanpur, as Mumbai Indians take on Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator. Both teams will be missing key players. While Gujarat still boasts a strong lineup of Indian stars, Mumbai Indians are facing the absence of several crucial overseas players who have returned to their respective national teams. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
Clash of the Captains: Former vs Current Indian Test Skippers
Gujarat Titans, the champions of 2022, and Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions, will go head-to-head in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. After struggling in the last two seasons, Mumbai has finally made it back to the playoffs. This match will also see a direct face-off between India’s former Test captain Rohit Sharma and current Test skipper Shubman Gill. Both teams are strong title contenders, but the road ahead won’t be easy. The winner of this match will face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 on June 1 in Ahmedabad.
Mumbai’s 11th and Gujarat’s 3rd Playoff Appearance
The team that loses the Eliminator will be knocked out of the tournament. Despite a poor start, Mumbai Indians have managed to reach the playoffs for the 11th time. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans have qualified for the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Besides their 2022 title win, they also reached the finals in 2023 under Hardik Pandya, who now leads the Mumbai side.
Gill and Hardik Have a Lot to Prove
Both Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya will be looking to prove their worth. If the Titans win the title, it will significantly enhance Gill’s reputation as a captain. On the other hand, Pandya, who faced boos after rejoining Mumbai, has regained fan support and could cement his legacy with another IPL trophy. However, both captains must address key issues in their teams to lift the trophy.
Titans Lose Momentum Ahead of Playoffs
Gujarat Titans come into the match with concerns, having lost their last two games. In those losses, their opponents scored a combined 465 runs, highlighting the need for better bowling performances. Lead pacer Mohammed Siraj will be crucial in the powerplay, while Arshad Khan has struggled with the new ball. This has increased the pressure on pacers like Prasidh Krishna, who has been a standout performer with 23 wickets this season.
Who Will Replace Jos Buttler?
Adding to their bowling woes, Rashid Khan’s lack of impact has also hurt Gujarat. In batting, their top three – Sai Sudharsan, Gill, and Jos Buttler – were instrumental in securing playoff qualification. However, Buttler has returned to England for national duty, leaving a big void. Kusal Mendis has been added as a replacement wicketkeeper-batsman and is likely to play tonight. But it remains to be seen if he can match Buttler’s impact. Middle-order batters Shahrukh Khan and Sherfane Rutherford have been inconsistent, making Gujarat’s challenge tougher against Mumbai.
Mumbai Also Misses Key Overseas Players
Like Gujarat, Mumbai is also affected by the departure of foreign players. South African opener Ryan Rickelton, who did well alongside Rohit Sharma, has left to join his national team. The same goes for England’s Will Jacks and South Africa’s all-rounder Corbin Bosch. To strengthen the squad, Mumbai has added England’s Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson, and Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka.
Rohit and Bairstow Likely to Open
Rohit Sharma is expected to open the innings with Jonny Bairstow. The middle-order has been a concern, especially with Tilak Varma’s poor form. Suryakumar Yadav, however, has been Mumbai’s standout batter this season with 640 runs. If he fails, Mumbai could be in serious trouble. Additionally, Mumbai’s slow scoring rate while batting first has been a problem, and captain Hardik Pandya needs to address this. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult will be key in troubling the opposition.
Probable Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Suryakumar Yadav, Charith Asalanka, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Impact Player: Ashwin Kumar/Karn Sharma (one of the two)
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Kusal Mendis, Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj.
Impact Player: Prasidh Krishna.
