Rohit Sharma To Open With Ryan Rickelton, No Will Jacks? MI's Probable Playing XI For IPL 2025
Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians will open their campaign in the IPL 2025 on Sunday, March 23, against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is all set to open for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming 2025 season of the cash-rich Indian Premier League along with South African wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton. Rickelton, who played for MI’s sister franchise MI Cape Town in SA20 2025, was signed for Rs 1 crore by the Mumbai-based franchise in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year.
Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and captain Hardik Pandya, who were retained for Rs 8 crore, Rs 16.35 crore and Rs 16.35 crore, respectively, by the five-time champions, in all likelihood will bat at No. 3, 4 and 5. Tilak scored two T20I centuries for India as a No. 3 batter against South Africa in November last year, and that’s why team management could back him to play at No. 3 for the entire season.
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The presence of three quality Indian batters in the middle order leaves room for Mumbai Indians to use South Africa’s Corbin Bosch or New Zealand sensation Bevon Jacobs as a finisher. Bosch, who also played for MI Cape Town in SA20 2025, was signed as a replacement for Lizaad Williams in March 2025.
MI signed England all-rounder Will Jacks for Rs 5.25 crore in the mega auction last year, but the presence of some serious batting talent at the top order may force Jacks to wait for his opportunity.
Mumbai Indians missed the presence of a quality spinner in the last three seasons of IPL, but this time they will have the option to choose between New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner and Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who replaced his injured national teammate Allah Ghazanfar last month.
There’s a high possibility that MI could include both Santner and Mujeeb in the playing XI to make life difficult for opposition batters in the middle overs.
Jasprit Bumrah is out of action these days due to a lower back injury, but he is expected to get fit in some days and available for selection. The 31-year-old fast bowler will lead MI’s bowling attack and will have New Zealand’s Trent Boult, signed for Rs 12.50 crore, and India’s Deepak Chahar, signed for Rs 9.25 crore, for support.
Punjab batter Naman Dhir, who was signed by MI using an RTM card in the mega auction, can be used as an impact player in the tournament along with Robin Minz, who is an explosive wicketkeeper-batter.
Mumbai Indians’ probable playing XI for IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult.
Impact players: Robin Minz, Corbin Bosch, Bevon Jacobs, Karn Sharma, Raj Bawa
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