Context: Crucial Stretch for Three Former Champions
With both teams having piled on scores of over 200 in their previous matches, the upcoming clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) could be another high-octane contest. And with April 17 upon us, Dale Steyn’s cheeky prediction of a potential 300-run innings in the IPL looms large—especially with SRH in action. They came tantalisingly close earlier this season, smashing 286 for 6 in a match that nearly rewrote the record books.
SRH’s explosive brand of cricket, introduced last year and supercharged this season, began against none other than MI. It was in that very match that Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, batting in the top three, unleashed carnage to help SRH set the then-highest IPL total.
Now, MI and SRH sit locked on four points each after six games, separated only by net run rate. With Chennai Super Kings (CSK) also languishing at the bottom, this week becomes critical for all three sides. MI and SRH are set to face off twice within six days, while both will also face CSK in the same stretch. The next 10 days could define their playoff ambitions.
Kishan Faces Former Franchise
A key storyline heading into the match is Ishan Kishan lining up against MI for the first time since his transfer. Having spent seven seasons with Mumbai, Kishan was released ahead of the 2025 mega auction despite scoring 320 runs at a strike rate of 149 in 2024. While MI attempted to buy him back, they bowed out at INR 3.2 crore, and SRH snatched him up for INR 11.25 crore.
Team News and Probable XIs
Mumbai Indians:
MI’s top four included Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma in their last match. If they continue with the same setup, the lower-middle order could use a reshuffle. Will Jacks may not be the ideal fit, which might prompt MI to consider Bevon Jacobs or Corbin Bosch, the latter having had a lengthy bowling session at training.
Probable XII:
- Rohit Sharma
- Ryan Rickelton (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya (capt)
- Naman Dhir
- Will Jacks/Corbin Bosch
- Mitchell Santner
- Deepak Chahar
- Trent Boult
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Karn Sharma/Vignesh Puthur
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Fresh from a successful chase of 246 against Punjab Kings, SRH’s batting looks in good shape. However, they may consider shoring up their bowling. South African allrounder Wiaan Mulder bowled in the nets to Abhinav Manohar and Aniket Verma, suggesting he could be under consideration.
Probable XII:
- 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:
MI will need Boult at his best early on to halt SRH’s hard-hitting top order. But the left-arm seamer has struggled in the powerplay this season, picking up just two wickets with a strike rate of 36 (up from 19 in 2024) and an economy of 9.1.
Ishan Kishan:
After a blazing start to IPL 2025, Kishan’s returns have dipped—he’s managed only one notable score in his last four outings. But SRH head coach Daniel Vettori remains confident: “He’s had some unlucky dismissals—down the leg side, picking out fielders—but he’s still the player who scored that hundred in the first game.”
With both teams desperate to break away from the mid-table clutter, this matchup could be a turning point in their seasons—and potentially, a historic one if Steyn’s prediction comes true.
