In what promises to be a thrilling encounter, the Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to host the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their first home game of the IPL 2025 season at the iconic Wankhede Stadium tonight (March 31). With home advantage under the spotlight, MI, who are yet to secure a win this season, are eager to turn their fortunes around against the defending champions.
MI’s campaign has been off to a rocky start, with two consecutive losses, the latest being a defeat against the Gujarat Titans. The team, known for slow starts, is under pressure to regroup quickly. Adding to their woes, captain Hardik Pandya was fined Rs 12 lakhs for a slow over-rate against the Titans, following a suspension from the first match of IPL 2024 for a similar offense. Pandya must tread carefully to avoid further penalties.
The absence of the world’s No. 1 fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, due to injury, has significantly impacted MI’s bowling attack. Moreover, former captain Rohit Sharma has struggled to find form, managing only single-digit scores in six of his last nine IPL innings. His latest outing against the Titans saw him dismissed for just eight runs, falling victim to a stunning inswinger from Mohammed Siraj.
On the other hand, KKR are riding high on confidence after an impressive eight-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals, thanks to an unbeaten 97 from Quinton de Kock. The team will be further bolstered by the return of star spinner and explosive opener Sunil Narine, who missed the last match due to illness but was seen training with the team at Wankhede Stadium on Friday.
Under the guidance of head coach Chandrakant Pandit and captain Ajinkya Rahane, KKR are well-versed with the conditions in Mumbai. A recent controversy surrounding pitch preferences at Eden Gardens adds an intriguing subplot, but the focus remains on securing another win.
Tonight’s match at Wankhede Stadium marks the venue’s first outing of IPL 2025. Last season, teams batting first won four out of the seven matches played here, with an average first innings total of 188 and a highest score of 234 (MI vs DC). A good pitch is expected, and the team winning the toss might opt to bowl first.
Mumbai Indians Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Vignesh Puthur. Impact Player: Satyanarayana Raju.
Kolkata Knight Riders Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (w), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy. Impact Player: Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Historically, MI and KKR have faced off 34 times in the IPL, with MI leading the head-to-head record with 23 wins to KKR’s 11. However, KKR have dominated recent encounters, winning both matches against MI last season and four out of the last five.
Weather forecasts suggest a possibility of rain, adding an element of uncertainty to this eagerly anticipated clash. Fans will be hoping for clear skies to witness what could be a defining moment in MI’s IPL 2025 campaign.