Mumbai Indians (MI) will be going for glory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The Paltans would want to put away last year’s disappointment and start fresh. Under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, MI, with their freshly assembled team, will want to become the first franchise to win the IPL trophy for a sixth time.
Achieving that may not be that easy. Especially considering that Jasprit Bumrah may not feature in the first half of the IPL 2025 season. Also, Hardik Pandya won’t play in the opening match against the Chennai Super Kings on March 23.
Rohit Sharma’s opening partner decided
Former MI batter Ambati Rayudu has given his two bits on what will be the right starting eleven. For him, Ryan Rickelton will open alongside Rohit Sharma instead of the dangerous Will Jacks. The English might come in as an impact substitute later on in the chase they are chasing. For Rayudu, the middle order is also pretty much set.
“I guess Ryan Rickelton will open with Rohit Sharma, as he can keep the wickets as well. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav will bat at three and four depending upon the left-right combination. Hardik Pandya will be at No. 5, while Naman Dhir will be at No. 6,” Rayudu told Star Sports.
Who will join @mipaltan's OG core in their XI?
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 16, 2025
Here's #AmbatiRayudu sharing his probable Playing XI for #MI. Share yours too#IPLonJioStar
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Arjun Tendulkar to play?
But he isn’t certain about who should be the third Indian bowler after Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar. He has Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner in the XI but isn’t sure about someone like Karn Sharma, Arjun Tendulkar, or Raj Bawa.
“Mitchell Santner, then Bumrah, Boult, and Deepak Chahar. The remaining place will go to a young Indian player as the impact player depending upon the conditions,” Rayudu added.
Ambati Rayudu’s Mumbai Indians Playing XI for IPL 2025
Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Indian spinner or pacer
Bench: Robin Minz (wk), Karn Sharma, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Satanyarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
