🏏IPL 2025 ~ 20th Match MI vs RCB at Wankhede @7.30 PM🏏 - Page 5

Despite three losses and a solitary win, MI have only been boosted ahead of today's game. Jasprit Bumrah has been named fit enough to be a part of tonight's encounter, Rohit Sharma, who missed the last game against Lucknow Super Giants, has also recovered in time and so has Tilak Verma, who battled through an injury himself. But it is the return of Bumrah which will have direct consequences, not only the bowling line-up now looks complete, the fear factor that he brings to the table could well bring in a major shake-up in MI's fortunes. Already smarting under three losses, they can't afford more setbacks and Bumrah's return could just act as a rejuvenating factor. On the other hand, the Royal Challengers are coming off 'yet another home defeat', thus bringing some of their momentum to a grinding halt. They've won both their games on the road, but they're in front of a stiff challenge tonight. Bumrah hasn't bowled competitively since January 5th and his performance could well be the deciding factor on what should be a run-fest in the making.

6:40pm RCB have not beaten MI at the Wankhede Stadium since 2015. But they had not gotten the better of CSK at Chepauk since 2008 before this season either, and come into this game having not lost a game on the road in 2025.

Kannadachi : "Every ball is an event when Jasprit Bumrah bowls !"

RCB have not beaten MI at the Wankhede Stadium since 2015. But they had not gotten the better of CSK at Chepauk since 2008 before this season either, and come into this game having not lost a game on the road in 2025. All that and much more in Sudarshanan's preview.

Here's Sudarshanan, our correspondent at the venue, chiming in from a while back: A fairly full Wankhede, not a lot of crowd outside when I walked in about half an hour ago. Jasprit Bumrah looks all set to play. The first thing he did after walking in was head towards the stumps at the pavilion end and do a bit of shadow-bowling. After that, he marked his run-up at both ends along with Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner.

Pitch Report | Natalie Germanos and Simon Katich:"In the first game that was played at this stadium in this season, KKR were bowled out for 116 but that was on pitch number 6, this is pitch number 8 today. Dimensions - 66m and 61m square boundaries, 74 straight. It's a little windy today - gusting up to 36 kph, you just wonder whether that's gonna have an effect on the dew. We know that when the dew comes here at the Wankhede, the ball flies everywhere and teams generally like to chase. I think that might have an influence tonight. When we look down at this surface, it's rock hard, it's got an even coverage of grass but it's a little bit bare. Don't expect a lot of spin on this surface and it should be a high-scoring surface."

Sanidhya : "I know it's early to say yet 3 teams out of top 4 have never won the cup once." -- That is the beauty of the IPL, isn't it?

Saifi: "RCB defeated CSK in their own backyard after inaugural season and DC did same to them after plenty of years, I feel RCB have been on a roll and could take down MI tonight to rewrite another stat. However their home games have always been a point of concern. They need to win those relatively easy matches as much as possible " -- Not sure if they are easy by any metric, but RCB will do well to cross that bridge when they reach it, and just concentrate on what is in front of them tonight.

Pitch Report | Natalie Germanos and Simon Katich: "In the first game that was played at this stadium in this season, KKR were bowled out for 116 but that was on pitch number 6, this is pitch number 8 today. Dimensions - 66m and 61m square boundaries, 74m straight. It's a little windy today - gusting up to 36 kph, you just wonder whether that's gonna have an effect on the dew. We know that when the dew comes here at the Wankhede, the ball flies everywhere and teams generally like to chase. I think that might have an influence tonight. When we look down at this surface, it's rock hard, it's got an even coverage of grass but it's a little bit bare. Don't expect a lot of spin on this surface and it should be a high-scoring surface. Mumbai have found it tough in the powerplay. They have got two of the all time legends in the IPL - Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar and they've found it hard in the powerplay so far. Whereas when you look at RCB, the best economy rate in the powerplay in this IPL so far and that's with the class ans bounce of Josh Hazlewood and the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has been brilliant. It'll be interesting to see if there's any movement with this gusting wind out here."

Mumbai have found it tough in the powerplay. They have got two of the all time legends in the IPL - Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar and they've found it hard in the powerplay so far. Whereas when you look at RCB, the best economy rate in the powerplay in this IPL so far and that's with the class ans bounce of Josh Hazlewood and the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who has been brilliant. It'll be interesting to see if there's any movement with this gusting wind out here."

Devdutt Padikkal: Great memories, it’s a great wicket to bat on, I have always enjoyed playing at the Wankhede. We have to assess the conditions well, we know that it’s not that easy at the start and hopefully, we can start well. I’m trying to trust my game and trying to keep things simple, so it’s important to trust your basics. (On being a part of the RCB franchise again) It feels good to be back, honestly I feel at home and really comfortable here, so I can continue that comfort on the field as well.

Devdutt Padikkal: Great memories, it’s a great wicket to bat on, I have always enjoyed playing at the Wankhede. We have to assess the conditions well, we know that it’s not that easy at the start and hopefully, we can start well. I’m trying to trust my game and trying to keep things simple, so it’s important to trust your basics. (On being a part of the RCB franchise again) It feels good to be back, honestly I feel at home and really comfortable here, so I can continue that comfort on the field as well.