IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya Returns as Mumbai Seeks First Victory Against Gujarat
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Synopsis
The Mumbai Indians aim to bounce back in the IPL 2025 season against the Gujarat Titans, bolstered by the return of captain Hardik Pandya. Both teams are eager for their first win after losing their openers, promising an intense showdown at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- MI looks to change their fortunes with Pandya's return.
- Gujarat Titans face bowling challenges despite a close match against Punjab.
- Ahmedabad pitch is expected to favor batters.
- Both teams seek their first points of the season.
- Key players like Sharma and Yadav need to perform for MI.
Ahmedabad, March 28 (NationPress) The Mumbai Indians (MI) are determined to rectify their unsatisfactory start to the IPL 2025 season as they prepare for a showdown with the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this Saturday. Both teams are still searching for their first points after suffering losses in their opening matches, making this clash a crucial encounter.
One significant advantage for MI ahead of this match is the return of their captain, Hardik Pandya, who was absent during their season opener against the Chennai Super Kings due to a suspension for an over-rate offence from IPL 2024. The five-time champions struggled in his absence, failing to set a competitive score against CSK and ultimately losing by four wickets. With Pandya reinstated, MI is optimistic about delivering a stronger performance in both batting and bowling.
Mumbai's batting order lacked the necessary vigor in their initial game at Chepauk, managing only 155 runs for 9 wickets. Stars like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav must step up and find their rhythm, especially with the conditions in Ahmedabad expected to be more favorable for batting. Pandya's presence not only bolsters the middle order but also offers another bowling option, particularly in the powerplay and death overs.
Nevertheless, MI will still miss their leading pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a back injury. His absence creates a considerable gap in the bowling lineup, putting extra pressure on players like Mohammed Siraj, who had a challenging outing in the opening match, conceding 54 runs.
Conversely, the Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, have their own issues to contend with. Despite a valiant chase against the Punjab Kings in their opener, where they fell short by just 11 runs while pursuing a massive 244, their bowling unit faced significant challenges. The home team will rely on Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan to perform against MI’s strong batting lineup, but the lack of seasoned Indian pacers could pose a dilemma for coach Ashish Nehra.
The Titans will also need to decide on their overseas player combination. The absence of variety in their Indian pace attack—comprising Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma, all of whom share a similar hit-the-deck style—means that Rabada must deliver effectively with the new ball.
The pitch in Ahmedabad is anticipated to favor batters, as demonstrated by the high-scoring thriller between Gujarat and Punjab, where a total of 475 runs were scored in 40 overs. With short boundaries and true bounce, another run-filled encounter could unfold, placing additional responsibility on bowlers to execute their strategies effectively.
Squads:
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickleton, Shrijith Krishnan, Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, Satyanarayana Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mubeeb-ur-Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gerald Coetzee, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan.
