As the Mumbai Indians prepare to host the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, April 17, the buzz is not so much about Rohit Sharma vs Abhishek Sharma — but whether we’ll finally see a 300-run team total in the Indian Premier League.
On the surface, “Sharma vs Sharma” sounds like a headline clash — senior pro Rohit Sharma against the younger, flashier Abhishek Sharma. But dig a little deeper, and the billing starts to feel more cosmetic than competitive. Rohit’s bat has been mostly silent this season, while Abhishek, despite a century in the previous match, has struggled for consistency. This isn’t the heavyweight showdown that sells tickets.
What might actually define this IPL 2025 clash is the explosive potential on both sides, a batting paradise in Wankhede, and two desperate teams looking to build momentum after stuttering starts. The conditions are ripe for a run-glut. Small boundaries, flat pitch, and power-hitters galore make the elusive 300-mark a tantalizing possibility. As Mumbai’s own Naman Dhir rightly said, “It’s cricket. I will not stick my neck out,” but even he knows the stage is set.
MI and SRH: Finally Finding Their Rhythm
Both teams come into the game with morale-boosting wins. Mumbai Indians held their nerve in a dramatic finish against Delhi Capitals, while Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a thrilling chase against Punjab Kings. With playoff aspirations hanging by a thread, this match could be pivotal for either side.
“There’s belief within the playing group,” said SRH head coach Daniel Vettori. “One win can catapult a team into momentum.” And it’s true — both MI and SRH are capable of putting together a string of wins. But the foundation must be laid at Wankhede.
All Eyes on the Openers
Rohit Sharma, India’s white-ball captain, hasn’t yet survived the Powerplay this season. In five innings, he’s been dismissed early every single time. While de Kock holds the unfortunate record of most dismissals (six) inside the Powerplay, Rohit is just behind. The good news? He’ll face a struggling Pat Cummins and a misfiring Mohammed Shami — a golden opportunity to reset his season.
On the other end, SRH’s hopes will ride on Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Their aggressive opening stand has been lethal when it clicks, but the real test will come in the form of Jasprit Bumrah. With pinpoint yorkers and variation, Bumrah vs Abhishek could be the match-defining contest. Interestingly, Abhishek’s highest international score — a whirlwind 135 off 54 — came at this very venue just two months ago. Will history repeat?
X-Factors & Match-Ups
Sunrisers’ Ishan Kishan is another intriguing storyline. He once wore MI blue for seven seasons. Now, in orange, he knows the pitch, the team, and the conditions like the back of his hand. While his form has dipped since his debut century for SRH, his insider knowledge could be critical.
For MI, Karn Sharma’s return has added a spark. His 3/36 in his season debut was a throwback to 2017 when he last won a Player of the Match award — also for MI. With the ball gripping a bit under lights and a dew factor to consider, his role in the middle overs will be vital.
Harshal Patel could be the joker in the pack for SRH. His head-to-head record against Rohit and Hardik Pandya is impressive — dismissing them three times each in T20s. If he gets his slower balls right, he could disrupt MI’s rhythm.
And then there’s Trent Boult, the Kiwi left-armer. With three dangerous southpaws — Abhishek, Head, and Kishan — in SRH’s top order, Boult’s record of keeping two of them below run-a-ball in T20s could be a turning point.
Team Composition
Mumbai Indians (Probable XI): Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Karn Sharma
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Probable XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammed Shami, Eshan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat
Head-to-Head: MI Hold the Edge
In their IPL history, MI lead SRH 13-10 overall. At Wankhede, they’ve dominated with six wins in eight. Since 2019, MI have won eight of the 11 meetings. The numbers clearly favor Mumbai, but with both teams in flux, past performance may not mean much on Thursday night.
Stats to Watch
- MI’s bowling unit is the most successful in the league this season, picking 47 wickets despite playing one fewer match than most sides.
- SRH’s bowling, in contrast, has been the weakest — lowest wickets per match and worst economy rate.
- Abhishek Sharma has now scored seven T20 hundreds — six of those since January 2023. Only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have more among Indians.
- Karn Sharma has only two Player of the Match awards in IPL — both for MI, and eight years apart.
MI vs SRH Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
MI vs SRH Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
MI vs SRH Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
