The Mumbai Indians (MI), five-time IPL champions, enter the 2025 season under intense scrutiny after a dismal 2024 campaign where they finished last. Nonetheless, Mumbai Indians are amongst the favourites to win the title this season. The franchise aims to reclaim its dominance with strategic retentions and bold auction moves. So, how did they revamp the squad, make tactical shifts, and prepare for the key challenges ahead?
Team Overview
Owned by Reliance Industries, MI holds the record for most IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) but faced unprecedented struggles in 2024, winning just four matches. Their ₹75 crore retention of five core players—Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma—signals faith in proven performers despite last year’s collapse. The ₹51 crore auction spend focused on reinforcing bowling and adding flexibility to the batting order.
2025 Squad Retentions and Key Acquisitions
Retained Players (₹75 crore):
- Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crore)
- Hardik Pandya (₹16.35 crore)
- Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 crore)
- Rohit Sharma (₹16.30 crore)
- Tilak Varma (₹18 crore)
Top Auction Buys:
| Player | Role | Price (INR) | Key Contribution |
| Trent Boult | Left-arm pacer | 12.5 crore | Powerplay wickets |
| Deepak Chahar | Swing bowler | 9.25 crore | New-ball control |
| Allah Ghazanfar | Mystery spinner | 4.8 crore | Middle-over economy |
| Will Jacks | All-rounder | 5.25 crore | Top-order hitting |
| Mitchell Santner | Spin all-rounder | 2 crore | Experience + batting depth |
The squad released underperformers like Ishan Kishan, Tim David, and Gerald Coetzee, prioritizing tactical flexibility.
Leadership and Coaching
Captain Hardik Pandya retains leadership despite 2024’s backlash, backed by coach Mahela Jayawardene’s public endorsement. His T20 World Cup 2024 form (189 runs at 158 SR) restored management’s confidence. As far as the coaching staff goes, Jayawardene emphasizes improved “decision-making processes” and collaborative strategy sessions with senior players like Rohit and Bumrah.
Tactical Analysis
Batting Order
| Position | Player | Role |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | Anchor with explosive starts |
| 2 | Ryan Rickelton/Will Jacks | Aggressive partner for Rohit |
| 3 | Suryakumar Yadav | Middle-order accelerator |
| 4 | Tilak Varma | Spin counterattacker |
| 5 | Hardik Pandya | Finisher + pace-hitting |
| 6 | Naman Dhir | Powerplay enforcer |
Bowling Resources
- Pace: Boult and Bumrah’s reunion (combined 63 wickets in IPL 2020) could revive MI’s death-bowling prowess. Deepak Chahar’s swing complements this duo.
- Spin: Santner (career economy: 7.1) and Ghazanfar’s mystery deliveries address MI’s historical weakness against spin.
Probable Playing XI
- Rohit Sharma
- Ryan Rickelton (WK)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya (C)
- Will Jacks
- Mitchell Santner
- Deepak Chahar
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Trent Boult
- Allah Ghazanfar
Impact substitutes include Raj Angad Bawa (Indian all-rounder) and Naman Dhir (middle-order hitter).
Challenges
Hardik’s dual role in balancing captaincy with finishing duties (216 runs in IPL 2024) remains precarious. His T20 World Cup resurgence (145 SR) offers hope. Bumrah’s fitness is also a challenge. Recovering from back spasms during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his workload management is critical. Choosing between Rickelton (SA20 2025: 259 runs @177 SR) and Jacks (IPL 2024: 68 vs RCB) requires early clarity. Pandya’s strained rapport with supporters (booed in 2024) could destabilize team morale during home games at Wankhede.
Historical Context
| Season | Position | Playoff Result |
| 2022 | 10th | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | 4th | Qualifier 2 loss |
| 2024 | 10th | Did not qualify |
The 2024 meltdown exposed overdependence on Bumrah and SKY, with MI losing six matches by margins exceeding 40 runs.
Road to Redemption
MI’s ₹69 crore investment in pace (Boult, Chahar) and spin (Ghazanfar, Santner) reflects a data-driven approach to counter-batting-friendly pitches. Key factors for 2025 include:
- Bumrah-Boult Chemistry: Their combined strike rate of 15.2 in powerplays during IPL 2020 could stifle opponents early.
- Youth Integration: Allah Ghazanfar (19 years old) and Raj Angad Bawa (22) inject energy, but their IPL inexperience risks inconsistency.
- Rohit’s Redemption: The opener’s 2024 strike rate (121) dipped below career average (130); a return to form is vital.
With strategic retentions and calculated auction gambles, Mumbai Indians possess the tools to reassert their IPL supremacy. However, converting paper strength into on-field results hinges on Pandya’s leadership maturity and seamless integration of new signings. As the Wankhede’s blue-and-gold faithful await a resurgence, MI’s 2025 campaign will test whether legacy franchises can adapt to cricket’s evolving tactical aspect.