Match 56 of the Indian Premier League 2025 season sees high-flying Mumbai Indians welcome fellow in-form team Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. MI are 3rd in the standings with six wins in a row and 7 in total. Hardik Pandya’s men are playing a solid brand of cricket and a win against Gujarat at home will take them to top of the IPL 2025 standings. MI own 14 points with their NRR being +1.274. On the other hand, Gujarat are placed 4th with 14 points. Notably, they have played less than Mumbai. Shubman Gill’s men remain a strong contender this season and will be a tough nut to crack for MI. In the previous meeting this season in Ahmedabad, Gujarat had outclassed MI and they will be keen to replicate a performance of the same stature. Whoever wins this contest will be a strong contender to finish in the top two.
Gujarat’s front three are top-class and lead the show in terms of contenders for the Orange Cap this season. However, MI’s pace trio, consisting of Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, and Deepak Chahar, is equal to the class of Gujarat’s front three. So what awaits everyone is an exciting battle on offer. It’s already being touted as the biggest clash of the season at this crucial juncture.
For Gujarat, the biggest takeaway is the return of Kagiso Rabada, who was serving a suspension after having returned to South Africa for personal reasons. He boosts the solid Gujarat side whose pace attack is strong. For MI, it’s going to be a settled XI with Rohit Sharma as an Impact Player.
In 6 meetings between the two teams, Gujarat have an advantage of 4-2 in terms of win-loss record.
Ahead of a crucial playoff-contending affair, we decode the 5 key player battles.
Jasprit Bumrah vs Jos Buttler
MI have been blessed since Jasprit Bumrah’s return from injury. He has been a significant factor in their rise. Bumrah, who has been a specialist in this format, will be aiming to perturb Gujarat’s Jos Buttler, who has been in rollicking form since moving to the side in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Across 9 IPL innings, Bumrah has dismissed Buttler twice. Buttler owns 68 runs in this contest from 72 balls with the strike rate reading 94.44. Buttler has faced a high percentage of dot balls (42), as per ESPNcricinfo. Overall in the 20-over format, Bumrah has toppled Buttler 4 times in 13 innings. Buttler averages 19.50, scoring 78 runs from 87 balls.
Trent Boult vs Shubman Gill
We are talking about two in-form players here. MI pacer Trent Boult owns 16 wickets this season from 11 games at 21. On the other hand, Gill has scored 465 runs from 10 games at 51.66. He has smashed five fifties already. Across 11 innings in the 20-over format, Boult has got the wicket of Gill on 1 occasion. Gill has fared decently against the left-arm pacer, scoring 66 runs from 62 balls. His strike rate is on the lower side, reading 106-plus. Gill has faced 32 dot balls in this contest.
Deepak Chahar vs Sai Sudharsan
MI’s Deepak Chahar continues to be a threat in the power play overs with his accuracy and swing. Chahar, who has played a key role for Chennai Super Kings in the past, will try to get the better of Gujarat opener Sai Sudharsan. Notably, Sudharsan has been a top performer this season and is a leading candidate for the Orange Cap. Across 3 IPL innings, Sudharsan has amassed 20 runs from 16 balls at a strike rate of 125. Sudharsan is yet to hit a six or a four off Chahar’s bowling. In the ongoing IPL 2025 season, Sudharsan owns 504 runs at 50.40. On the other hand, Chahar has bagged 9 scalps from 11 innings at 32.66.
Mohammed Siraj vs Rohit Sharma
Gujarat pacer Mohammed Siraj has done an able job this season. He owns 14 scalps from 10 matches at 24.28. On the other hand, MI’s veteran Rohit Sharma has picked pace after a torrid start. Rohit has played 10 matches and scored 293 runs at 32.55. He has smashed three fifties of late. Siraj, who has done well in the power play, will aim to stop Rohit’s blade from talking. Across 11 innings, Siraj has managed to get Rohit once. Rohit has scored 82 runs in this duel from 59 balls. His strike rate reads 138.98.
Rashid Khan vs Suryakumar Yadav
MI’s Suryakumar Yadav has been in daunting form and he remains a massive threat for Gujarat given his versatility and range. Suryakumar, who has been solid against spin, will be aiming to dominate the struggling Rashid Khan, who has been abysmal this season. Gujarat, sticking with Rashid, has robbed Washington Sundar and Sai Kishore big time. Across 11 IPL innings, SKY has scaled a height of 91 runs from 64 balls without being dismissed. Meanwhile, in the 20-over format as a whole, he has managed 107 runs from 70 balls (0 dismissals). His strike rate is 152-plus.