GT vs MI Match Preview | Knockout kings Gujarat target another win as Mumbai seek to halt the run
The race to Qualifier Two is set to heat up as Gujarat Titans go head-to-head with Mumbai Indians at Mullanpur in a high-pressure eliminator clash. Both teams showed plenty of promise throughout the tournament but stumbled during the crucial business end, and now face the risk of elimination.
Mumbai’s path to the playoffs was built on dominant wins over lower-ranked teams, but they’ve failed to defeat stronger opponents like Gujarat , RCB, and Punjab. Gujarat, meanwhile, are reeling from the absence of Jos Buttler, a massive blow given his role in their consistent, high-scoring top order. His replacement, Kusal Mendis, offers potential explosiveness but lacks IPL experience. The middle-order trio of Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, and Tewatia could be exposed if early wickets fall, especially with Rashid Khan batting at No. 7.
GT’s bigger headache, however, lies in their bowling. Since the league resumed, they’ve leaked 664 runs across three games. Among their eight bowlers, only Prasidh Krishna has kept the economy under ten, also picking more wickets than all other pacers combined. Rabada’s unavailability, Coetzee’s and Siraj’s dip in form, and Rashid Khan’s ineffectiveness have compounded their woes. A potential reshuffle, perhaps bringing in Washington Sundar comes with its own risks. Their hopes rest heavily on Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan delivering at the top.
On the other hand, Mumbai, despite their experience, aren’t quite clicking. Suryakumar Yadav has been remarkably consistent, scoring 25+ in every innings this season, but the support around him is lacking. Rohit Sharma’s key contributions came in easier chases, and Tilak Varma’s form has dipped. With Rickelton and Jacks unavailable, MI will turn to Jonny Bairstow, who brings IPL experience and recent County form and Charith Asalanka, who’s yet to debut in the league and carries a mixed T20 record. Losing Jacks also deprives them of a useful off-spin option.
The bowling attack still revolves around Jasprit Bumrah, whose individual brilliance can turn any match. However, Mumbai’s tendency to rotate six or seven bowlers each game has led to some inconsistent spells. They might consider replacing Ashwani Kumar with Karn Sharma for better control. With the previous Mullanpur game favouring spinners like Krunal Pandya and Harpreet Brar, Mitchell Santner’s role could be vital in the middle overs. Despite their shaky form, both teams have match-winners and with only one side in IPL history (SRH in 2016) having lifted the trophy from the Eliminator, the road ahead is steep and difficult.
Form Guide
GT: L L W W W
MI: L W L W W
GT vs MI Head to head
The rivalry between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians is steadily growing in IPL. Out of their five meetings so far, GT holds a slight edge with three wins, while MI have claimed victory twice, reflecting a tightly contested matchup.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch offers a fair contest between bat and ball, ensuring a balanced game for both disciplines. Dry and slightly rough surface conditions tend to benefit spinners, providing better grip and increased turn. With 75% chances of disruptions we believe climate would play a major role in the game. Maximum temperature is expected to be 32C during the game and minimum temperature is expected to be 24C.
Team News
As the playoffs approach, both Gujarat and Mumbai are dealing with significant player unavailability and team adjustments. For GT, the absence of Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada, and Glenn Phillips is a major setback. The franchise has drafted in Sri Lankan duo Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka as replacements. Buttler’s absence is particularly damaging—alongside Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, he accounted for nearly 73% of GT’s total batting output this season. The pressure will now be on Mendis to step into a crucial role at the top of the order. Adding to GT’s concerns is the dip in form of their star spinner Rashid Khan, who is enduring his least effective IPL campaign to date. In 14 matches, he has managed just nine wickets while conceding runs at an economy of 9.47. Alarmingly, he has also been struck for 31 sixes—the joint-most ever conceded by a bowler in a single IPL season.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have also been forced into changes with Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch, and Vignesh Puthur unavailable for the knockout stages. In response, MI have named Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, Richard Gleeson, and Raghu Sharma as replacements. Despite back-to-back defeats in two of their last three games, MI remain a strong contender. The team is unlikely to be overly affected by Rickelton and Jacks’ absence. Bairstow is expected to take over duties at the top of the order and behind the stumps, while Suryakumar Yadav could be promoted to No. 3. Either Charith Asalanka or Bevon Jacobs may slot into the middle order, with Asalanka also providing a handy off-spin option if needed. With depth and experience in their ranks, MI will look to regroup quickly and make a strong push for the title.
GT Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Kusal Mendis, Rahul Tewatia, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
MI Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Charith Asalanka, SuryaKumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jonny Bairstow, Hardik Pandya, Mitchell Santner, Ashwini Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar
Broadcasting Platforms
The GT vs MI Indian Premier League 2025 match will be digitally streamed on JioHotstar and telecast on the Star Sports network at 7:30 PM IST in India.
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