Overview: Crunch time for three IPL giants

With scoring records tumbling in recent seasons, a 300-run total in the IPL felt inevitable—and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) nearly pulled it off, racking up 286/6 earlier this season. Dale Steyn, SRH’s former bowling coach, made a bold prediction: “April 17 will see IPL’s first 300. Maybe I’ll witness it myself.”

That day has arrived, and fittingly, SRH meet Mumbai Indians (MI)—the very side against whom their attacking template was first unleashed in IPL 2024. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, then at No. 3, tore into MI’s bowlers with ultra-aggressive 60s, laying the groundwork for what was then the highest total in IPL history.

Now, midway through IPL 2025, both MI and SRH find themselves level on points (4 from 6 games), separated only by net run rate. The match also marks the beginning of a pivotal stretch for these two and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), currently at the bottom. MI and SRH play each other twice in six days, and both will soon face CSK. The next ten days could well define the trajectory of these former champions.

Recent Form

• Mumbai Indians: W L L W L
   
• Sunrisers Hyderabad: W L L L L
   

Changing Colors

After seven seasons with MI, Ishan Kishan now dons the SRH jersey. Despite scoring 320 runs at a strike rate of 149 last year, MI let him go before the mega auction. Though they tried to buy him back, they backed out at INR 3.2 crore—Kishan eventually went to SRH for a whopping INR 11.25 crore.

Probable XIs and Team News

MI featured Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma in their top four last match. If they stick with that core, they might consider bringing in Bevon Jacobs or Corbin Bosch instead of Will Jacks, who hasn’t quite fit the lower-middle order mold. Bosch was seen having a long bowling session ahead of the match.

Mumbai Indians (possible XI):
Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Naman Dhir, Will Jacks/Corbin Bosch/Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Karn Sharma/Vignesh Puthur

SRH are fresh from chasing down 246 against Punjab Kings and might look to tighten their bowling attack. South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder bowled extensively in the nets, possibly indicating a spot in the XI.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (possible XI):
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (capt), Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga/Wiaan Mulder

Players to Watch

Trent Boult, known for his early breakthroughs, has been unusually quiet this season, with just two wickets in the powerplay—and both came at Wankhede. His strike rate in the first six overs has jumped from 19 (2024) to 36 this year, with his economy climbing from 7 to 9.1.

Ishan Kishan started strong this season but has hit a rough patch, scoring in single digits in three of his last four innings. However, coach Daniel Vettori remains confident: “He’s just been unlucky—caught down leg, finding fielders. He’s still the batter who scored a hundred in the opener.”

Key Question

MI’s pace department is largely settled, but who should they turn to for spin against SRH’s power-packed lineup