Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: The Mumbai Indians (MI) are in desperate need of a course correction. With only one win in four matches and a worrying trend of poor PowerPlay performances, they now return to their fortress at the Wankhede Stadium to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in what promises to be a high-stakes Monday night clash.
The PowerPlay Puzzle
Mumbai’s Achilles heel this season has been the first six overs. In four games, they’ve lost eight wickets in the PowerPlay — the second-worst among all teams — while managing to take only five wickets in return. Only Punjab Kings have fared worse in this key phase.
Their only victory came when they flipped that script — against KKR — taking four wickets in the PowerPlay while losing just one. That match, notably, featured their most balanced performance of the season.
Mahela Jayawardene, MI’s director of cricket, admitted this is a key area of concern. “We have looked at those numbers as well… We need to take more control in the PowerPlays. That is something we are going to plan and try to improve,” he said.
Bumrah and Rohit Return
There’s good news for MI fans — Jasprit Bumrah is confirmed to return for this clash after missing the first four games. Rohit Sharma, who missed the last match due to a knee injury in the nets, is also expected to return, although final confirmation will come closer to match time.
Both are pivotal to MI’s success — Bumrah with the ball, particularly in the death overs, and Rohit at the top of the order where Mumbai has lacked stability.
RCB’s Balanced Look
RCB, on the other hand, comes into this match with confidence despite a recent loss at home. Two big away wins — against KKR and CSK — have shown their potential. Led by Rajat Patidar, and supported by a strong lineup including Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone and Tim David, RCB will be looking to exploit MI’s early weaknesses.
Tim David remains upbeat. “It’s been a great start for us… The last game didn’t go our way, but we’re ready for Mumbai,” he said.
Pitch and Conditions
Wankhede’s red-soil surface is expected to offer a batting paradise, especially in the second innings. The small boundaries and potential dew factor suggest that chasing could be a significant advantage — and both teams would be eager to field first if they win the toss.
Head-to-Head and History
While Mumbai Indians have a historical edge over RCB with a 19-14 win-loss record, the recent record is tighter — 2-2 since 2022. At the Wankhede, MI have dominated RCB 8-3, with the visitors not having won here since 2015. That’s six straight defeats for RCB at this venue.
Team Watch
Mumbai Indians
- Injury Updates: Bumrah returns; Rohit and Tilak Varma are expected to be available.
- Tactics: Expect Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar to lead early overs, while Bumrah could be reserved for death. Young Ashwani Kumar may make way.
- Probable XII: Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Vignesh Puthur
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Injury Updates: No injury concerns.
- Tactics: Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar to attack up front; Suyash Sharma to challenge middle-order hitters.
- Probable XII: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Stats Corner
- Hardik Pandya has taken the most wickets (7) via hard-length deliveries in IPL 2025.
- Tim David’s strike rate of 220.83 in the death overs (min 20 balls faced) is the highest this season.
- Trent Boult has struggled this season with just one PowerPlay wicket across three matches, barring the KKR game.
Mumbai Indians are under pressure. They’re at home, with a strong historical record, and finally have their two senior-most players back. But RCB’s form and balance make them a real threat. If MI fails to solve their PowerPlay woes again, this might be yet another uphill night at the Wankhede.
RCB VS MI Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
Cricket fans across the globe can catch the live action of RCB VS MI through various platforms:
- India: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar
- Pakistan: Tapmad TV
- United States: Willow TV
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket
- Australia: Fox Sports
Viewers traveling abroad can use VPN services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN to access their preferred streaming platforms.
