Mumbai Indians are gearing up for a new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, determined to bounce back from a forgettable campaign last year. In the 2024-25 season, Mumbai found themselves at the bottom of the points table, enduring a tough run filled with numerous challenges. As the franchise looks ahead, they are aiming to put the setbacks behind them and begin afresh with renewed hope.
Last year was a season to forget for Mumbai Indians, winning only four of fourteen games. Under the leadership of new skipper Hardik Pandya, they failed to meet expectations, struggling to find their rhythm throughout the competition. The team's poor showing resulted in a disappointing position at the bottom of the points table. Moreover, the pressure on Pandya was palpable, and it only intensified when he was subjected to boos from MI fans during matches. Indian all-rounder had hoped to bring stability and leadership to the team, but the struggles on the field compounded the frustration. His leadership was constantly scrutinised, and the team’s inability to turn things around only fueled the criticism.
As the new season begins, MI have already faced a series of hurdles. The absence of their key fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is a significant blow to their bowling attack. Bumrah, who has been an integral part of Mumbai’s lineup, will miss the first few games due to an injury. Additionally, Hardik Pandya will serve a one-match ban in their opening game of the season, following a slow-over rate penalty he incurred in the previous season. As a result, Suryakumar Yadav will take over the captaincy for the first match. Yadav, who is currently India's T20I captain, will hope to guide the side to victory to set the tone for the rest of the season.
As Mumbai Indians prepare to take the field, they have a formidable lineup, boasting the likes of match-winners such as Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Mitchell Santner. They will be looking forward to getting off to a strong start to rise from the depths of the table and challenge for a playoff spot. They will kickstart their campaign by facing Chennai Super Kings in the third match of the tournament on March 23.
Mumbai Indians squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Verma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkat Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthhur, Suryakumar Yadav.