IPL 2025 Preview | MI go in as favourites against DC in Match 2025 at Wankhede

Last Tuesday at 4:17 PM

Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel's captaincy will be under the scanner when MI take on DC at the Wankhede on Tuesday

Mumbai Indians will be aiming to seal their playoff berth at the Wankhede on Wednesday when they take on direct playoff rivals Delhi Capitals in their penultimate league stage match of the season. The visitors are on a four-match winless streak, the extension of which will guarantee elimination.

It is fitting that the only two teams which remain in contention for the final undecided playoff spot are Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals -- franchises that have reached this stage in as contrasting a manner as possible. The five-time champions began their campaign with two losses on the bounce and four defeats in the first five games, while their rivals had just a solitary defeat during the same phase of the season. Yet, Mumbai turned the tide around with a six-match winning streak in a mid-season upsurge that has become snonymous with the Paltan, and they now find themselves a point ahead of Delhi while also boasting an astronomically better net run rate.

The big question will be whether Delhi Capitals dare to tamper with their opening pair again, having already used seven different combinations so far. While KL Rahul scored a ton after being pushed up the order in their last game, his unbeaten 65-ball 112 was also touted as sluggish in many quarters given how Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan batted later in the night. Then there is the form issue with Faf du Plessis, whose strike rate of 122.69 while averaging under 25 leaves much to be desired. Oh, and there's also Karun Nair, who smashed Jasprit Bumrah to bits enroute to a 40-ball 89 the last time the two teams met, but has had practically no impact since and was dropped in DC's previous game. Good luck figuring that one out, Hemang Badani and crew!

Form Guide

MI: L W W W W

DC: L NR L L W

MI vs DC Head to head in T20s

It is no surprise that the five-time champions Mumbai have a better record against perennial underachievers Delhi Capitals, with 20 wins to their name in 36 encounters. The side has also won four of their last five encounters, including a contest earlier this season when Karun Nair's whirlwind 89 on debut was not enough to chase down a 200-plus total.

MI 20-16 DC

Pitch and Weather

The seaside location of the Wankhede Stadium presents new ball bowlers some prodigous swing with the shiny Kookaburra to try and scalp early wickets, but beyond that it is often a different ball-game altogether courtesy of the true bounce the surface generally offers. However, there has been plenty grip on offer this season too, as the average first innings score reads a solemn 165.

Expect dark clouds looming overhead throughout Wednesday's encounter, with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Centigrade.

Team News

All of Mumbai Indian's overseas starters have returned to help the team push for the final playoff start, which must mean an unchanged lineup for their first game since the season's resumption.

Delhi Capitals opted to sit out Karun Nair against Gujarat Titans after a string of low scores, and KL Rahul quelled doubts over the decision with a ton up top. However, with Faf du Plessis' protracted struggles continuing, the visitors might be tempted to bring Nair back in considering how he took down Jasprit Bumrah the last time these two teams met -- even at the cost of moving KL back in the middle-order.

MI Probable XII: Rohit, Rickelton(wk), Jacks, Suryakumar, Tilak, Hardik(c), Dhir, Chahar, Boult, Bumrah, Ashwani, Karn

DC Probable XII: Nair, du Plessis, Porel(wk), Rahul, Axar(c) , Stubbs, Ashutosh, Nigam, Kuldeep, Chameera, Natarajan, Mustafizur