🏏IPL 2025,Match 33: MI vs SRH, Wankhede Stadium, 7.30 PM🏏

🏏IPL 2025,Match 33: MI vs SRH, Wankhede Stadium, 7.30 PM🏏

Mumbai Indians are ready to battle Sunrisers Hyderabad on the grounds of Wankhede Stadium today. The toss will be held at 7:00 pm and the match will begin at 7:30 pm today!

Both teams are eager to bag a third win for their respective teams, and so fans can expect an exciting clash filled with energy and edge-of-the-seat action. This match could set the pace for what’s to come in the tournament.

The contest is being hyped as Sharma vs Sharma, but that may be a bit of a lame duck promotion. One Sharma has been underwhelming, the other has been hot and cold - more cold than hot in fact, notwithstanding his century in the last innings.

So Rohit Sharma versus Abhishek Sharma is hardly a face-off - whether measured by current form, overall impact, or contribution to the league. Take your pick.

A more appropriate billing for the buildup to the Mumbai Indians versus Sunrisers Hyderabad clash today night might be about the much-debated point of the season - will the IPL finally witness a 300-run innings? The answer is: it's eminently possible but... "It's cricket. I will not stick my neck out. You must have noticed last night. Even 100 (111) could be defended," remarked Naman Dhir of Mumbai Indians, a hard-hitting batter himself.

Given the nature of the pitch, and the smaller boundaries of the Wankhede, and above all the presence of explosive batters on both sides, there will clearly be a runfest in Mumbai on Thursday (April 17) night, whether or not the 300-run mark is breached.

Team Watch

Mumbai Indians

Injuries/Availability: There is no news of any injury to any player.

Tactics & Matchups: Rohit has not survived the Powerplay in each of the five innings he batted so far. Only de Kock (six times) has been dismissed more often than Rohit in this phase. What's more, the India captain will be up against two bowlers - Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami - who have had the upper hand against him in T20s. Both are off-boil so far this season and it will be a good opportunity for Rohit to roar back into form and set the record straight.

Probable XII: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Karn Sharma

SunRisers Hyderabad

Injuries/Availability: No news of any injury to any player. One who was injured, Adam Zampa, has been replaced.

Tactics & Matchups: Since marking his SRH debut with a whirlwind 47-ball unbeaten 106, Ishan Kishan's form has tapered off - with 30 runs in five innings since. Having spent seven years with MI, he knows both the conditions and the opposition well. He could be one to watch. "Obviously we would be foolish not to tap into some of that knowledge and understanding around the Mumbai mentality. He's a wealth of knowledge for myself and the rest of the coaches for this time," Vettori said. Harshal Patel enjoys a good H2H record over Rohit and Hardik, both of whom he has dismissed thrice in T20s off 29 and 13 balls respectively.

Probable XII: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammed Shami, Eshan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat

A Sharma opening the innings for either side isn't the only common factor between the teams. Both Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad are coming from poor starts to the season, having recorded thrilling wins in their last outings - MI edging past Delhi in a dramatic finish, and SRH overpowering Punjab Kings in an equally exciting contest. It is widely predicted that one of these two sides will be in the last four eventually and if that were to happen, a win on Thursday is very crucial.

"One win can catapult you up the team and then you can get on the roll and there's trust within the playing group that both teams are very good sides and can win on their day," Daniel Vettori, the head coach of SRH, said opining on the game.

Returning to the Sharma vs Sharma narrative, expectations will naturally rest heavily on Senior Sharma. Rohit has yet to fire as anticipated this season, but Thursday might just be his night. On the other side, Abhishek will undoubtedly be one of the key attractions - alongside his swashbuckling opening partner, Travis Head. Their face-off against Jasprit Bumrah could be one of the defining battles of the game. For the record, it was at this very venue that Abhishek registered his highest international score (135 off 54 balls against England) in February.

All eyes on Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah recently returned to action after being out for three months due to injury. But in his comeback match against Delhi Capitals, he didn’t look at his best and was taken apart by Karun Nair, giving away 44 runs. On Thursday, all eyes will be on the 31-year-old as he faces a strong batting line-up featuring big hitters like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen. Mumbai is expected to stick with the same playing XI that beat Delhi, which means we might once again see Karn Sharma come in as an impact player after his impressive three-wicket haul.

Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

What to expect: A bit of dew, a lot of runs and an exciting contest. Both teams are coming off a win in their respective last games and will be keen to build on that momentum. How Abhishek and Head will handle Bumrah is a key factor in the contest as much as about whether Rohit will get back among serious runs.

Head to head: It's 13-10 in favour of MI in overall face-offs, and at the venue, MI have dominated SRH, 6-2. MI have won eight of the 11 contests between the teams since 2019. Since 2022, their head to head record is 3-2, again in favour of MI.

Weather Report

As per Accuweather, the weather in Mumbai on Thursday is expected to be around 35 degrees Celsius, with minimum temperature during the match expected around 27 degrees Celsius. There may be some clouds in the sky during the match, but there is no chance of rain, so the game is likely to go on without any weather interruptions.

MI vs SRH IPL 2025: Pitch Report

The Wankhede Stadium is known for high-scoring games, and Thursday’s match is likely to be no different. With power-hitters on both teams, fans can expect plenty of big shots and excitement. Bowlers might struggle, if the dew makes things harder. All eyes are going to be on Jasprit Bumrah to see how he performs, especially after a below-par show in MI’s last game against DC’s Karun Nair.

Did you know?

- MI have taken the most wickets (47) despite playing one game fewer than three other sides and have the second best average and best SR. SRH, on the other hand, have the lowest wickets/match ratio, worst average and ER.

- Karn Sharma's 3/36 in his first match of the season gave him only his second POTM award in IPL - the last one also coming when he represented MI in 2017.

- Trent Boult will be up against three LHB - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan - at the top, two of whom have scored under a run a ball against him in T20s.

- Abhishek Sharma now has seven 100s in T20 cricket - six of those scored since Jan 2023 - the third most for India in the format behind Kohli and Rohit.

What they said:

"Whenever we bring the bat from the factory, we check it before going into the match. So, this doesn't go into our minds." - MI batter Naman Dhir on umpires checking the bat size.

"I wish they'd checked the bats when I was playing." - SRH coach Daniel Vettori on the same subject

The match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad is shaping up to be a big deal in the IPL 2025. Scheduled for today at the famous Wankhede Stadium, this game is crucial as it marks the halfway point of the season for both teams. Both Mumbai and Hyderabad have had their share of ups and downs this season. However, they are coming into this game with some important win momentum, which should pump up their spirits. With key players finding their form, cricket fans can expect an exciting matchup.

There are a few records that players on both sides are aiming to break, which adds even more buzz to the game. Let’s check out some of these milestones that we might see during the MI vs SRH showdown and beyond.

250 sixes for Mumbai Indians for Rohit Sharma

First up, Rohit Sharma is just two sixes away from hitting 250 sixes for the Mumbai Indians. Since joining the team back in 2011, he’s known for his skill with big hits. By reaching this milestone, he’ll reinforce his status as one of the top six-hitters in Indian cricket history.

150 sixes for Suryakumar Yadav

Next, Suryakumar Yadav is looking to reach 150 sixes in his IPL career. He’s been a force since he started and is just 10 sixes away from this impressive figure. Known for his creative batting style, he brings a lot to the table, having played for both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.

50 T20 catches for Mujeeb Ur Rahman

On the bowling side, Mujeeb Ur Rahman is closing in on a unique achievement as he needs just three more catches to total 50 catches in T20 cricket. Known for his spin bowling, Mujeeb is showcasing his all-around abilities in this format, making him a valuable player for his team.

Hardik Pandya to get to 300 sixes

Hardik Pandya, the star all-rounder, is another player to watch. He’s just nine sixes away from hitting 300 sixes in T20, which is quite a milestone for anyone. He’s not only been a powerhouse for the Mumbai Indians but also for other teams he’s played for, like Baroda and Gujarat Titans.

He’s also aiming for another record—just five more boundaries to reach 200 fours in the IPL. Since his debut in 2015, he has been a consistent performer, marking his journey with 120 fours for Mumbai and 75 for Gujarat.