IPL 2025 Live Report: MI Keep SRH in Check on a Sluggish Wankhede Pitch

 Powerplay Spark: Rickelton and Rohit Provide Early Momentum

Ryan Rickelton, after a cautious start (8 off 10 balls), broke free in the sixth over against Eshan Malinga. He dispatched three hittable deliveries — a slower half-volley, a short ball, and a full-toss — to the boundary. The ball had to be changed mid-over due to shape damage, and MI ended the powerplay at 55 for 1, with the win predictor favoring them at 82.11%.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma gave Mumbai a flying start before falling for a brisk 26 off 16. He edged his first boundary for six, then followed with two more towering hits — pulling both Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins for sixes. His dismissal, slicing a full-toss to cover point, left MI at 32 for 1 in four overs, but his cameo laid a solid foundation.

SRH Held to 162 on a Sticky Wankhede Surface

Winning the toss proved vital for Mumbai Indians, who opted to bowl first — anticipating dew in the second innings. The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium played unusually slow, helping MI limit Sunrisers Hyderabad to 162/5. Despite an opening stand of 59 between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, SRH struggled to maintain momentum.

It took two late 21-run overs — the 18th and 20th, bowled by Deepak Chahar and Hardik Pandya — for SRH to cross 160. Those overs yielded the only five sixes of the innings, mostly off full-tosses, potentially due to dew making grip difficult. Heinrich Klaasen and Aniket Verma led the late assault, with Aniket notably flat-batting a slower one for six and following up with another off a low full-toss. Cummins finished the innings with another six over the leg side.

Bumrah and Jacks Lead MI’s Disciplined Bowling Attack

Jasprit Bumrah, ever-reliable, bowled two overs in the powerplay and ended with a tight 1/21 from his four overs. He even claimed Klaasen with one of his signature full-tosses — deceptive due to its spin and trajectory.

However, MI’s most effective bowler was Will Jacks, who returned 2/14 from three overs. Brought in to counter SRH's left-heavy top order, Jacks dismissed Ishan Kishan and Travis Head with sharp offspin on a gripping surface. His spell was critical, especially after MI lost Karn Sharma to injury in the third over due to a suspected split webbing while diving at midwicket.

Jacks' contribution allowed MI to manage Karn's absence without bringing in a replacement bowler, which kept the door open for Rohit Sharma to later enter as their Impact Player.

SRH’s Batting Struggles: Missed Chances and a Slow Track

Sunrisers had their fair share of early luck — an edge off Abhishek dropped by Jacks first ball, and a no-ball saving Head after being caught. However, these strokes of fortune didn’t translate into acceleration.

Head’s 28 off 29 and Abhishek’s 40 off 28 hinted at a struggle to time the ball. When Abhishek finally perished trying to force the pace, SRH were 59 for 1. Head soon followed, miscuing a lofted shot off Jacks to long-off.

The middle overs were particularly difficult — only four boundaries came after the seventh over and all behind the wicket, highlighting how tough it was to generate power down the ground. At one point, SRH were 105 for 3 after 15 overs with Klaasen and Nitish Reddy adding 23 runs in 23 balls.

Pandya Battles Injury but Delivers Key Breakthrough

Hardik Pandya gave MI a scare after appearing to tweak his ankle or shin during his follow-through in the eighth over. However, he stayed on and immediately removed Abhishek, caught on the point boundary off a slower ball.

His spell was peppered with cutters and variations, which proved effective on a pitch offering little pace and bounce. The surface was unusually helpful for slower deliveries, contrary to Wankhede’s usual character.

Tactical Choices and Impact Player Strategy

MI’s decision to bring in Jacks post-powerplay — targeting SRH’s trio of left-handers — proved spot on. His economical and attacking spell allowed MI to minimize the impact of Karn’s injury.

Rohit was held back as the Impact Player and could now play a crucial role in the chase. For SRH, the decision to go bowler-heavy with Cummins at No. 7 seemed risky, though they had batting substitutes available if needed.

Both Teams on the Edge of Playoff Contention

Coming into this match, both MI and SRH were level with two wins from six games, positioned seventh and ninth respectively. With playoff hopes still alive, this clash held added importance.

Recent form had seen SRH bounce back, chasing down 246 in their previous outing, while MI’s potent lineup remained capable of pulling off big totals — especially at a high-scoring venue like Wankhede.

Still, the surface threw a curveball this time — making it more about smarts and spin than sheer power.

Teams:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga
Subs: Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder

Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Subs: Rohit Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz