The Mumbai Indians (MI) are gearing up for the high-pressure IPL 2025 Eliminator. Several issues are looming large over the five-time champions.
Despite a strong mid-season comeback, MI’s recent form and historical patterns raise questions about their chances of advancing further.
Here are the three biggest concerns for MI heading into the knockout clash:
1. Rohit Sharma’s Poor Form
Rohit Sharma’s struggles with the bat have become a major headache for MI this season. The veteran opener has managed just 329 runs from 13 matches at an average of 27.42, with most of his runs coming in a brief purple patch during MI’s six-match winning streak.
In recent games, his lack of aggression and low strike rate have hurt MI’s starts, as seen in the must-win match against Punjab Kings where he scored a sluggish 24 off 21 balls.
Concerns about his motivation and body language have also been raised by former players, suggesting that the fire that once drove Rohit may be fading as he nears the twilight of his career. This inconsistency at the top puts extra pressure on the rest of the batting lineup.
2. Historical Struggles After Missing Top-Two Finish
MI’s path to the title has historically depended on finishing in the top two of the league stage. All five of their IPL titles have come in seasons where they secured a top-two spot, giving them two chances to reach the final.
On the other hand, MI have never won the IPL after finishing outside the top two—a scenario they face this year after ending fourth in the table.
Moreover, MI are winless this season against the other three playoff teams (Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru), losing all four encounters.
This pattern raises doubts about their ability to overcome the tougher route through the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.
3. Inconsistent Middle Order and Over-Reliance on Suryakumar Yadav
While Suryakumar Yadav has been in sensational form, amassing 640 runs in 14 matches, the rest of MI’s middle order has struggled for consistency.
Key players like Tilak Varma have failed to deliver in crucial moments, with Varma scoring just 41 runs in his last four innings at an average of 10.25.
This inconsistency has made MI heavily reliant on Suryakumar to anchor and accelerate the innings. If SKY fails, the team risks collapsing, as seen in several matches this season.
The lack of dependable contributions from the rest of the batting lineup remains a significant concern heading into the must-win Eliminator.
