Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to return to their fortress, Wankhede Stadium, for their first home game of IPL 2025 after two consecutive away defeats. They will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team they have historically dominated, but the current form tells a different story. MI, under new leadership, have struggled to find the right balance, while KKR come into this clash with renewed confidence after securing a convincing win in their last outing.
KKR bounced back from their opening loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with a dominant performance against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Their spinners applied relentless pressure, restricting RR to a modest total of 151. In response, Quinton de Kock stole the show with a magnificent 97*, guiding KKR to an eight-wicket victory.
ALSO READ: Match 12 (MI vs KKR) – Probable XII and Fantasy XI Predictions
Meanwhile, MI faltered against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad. Chasing a competitive total, they suffered an early collapse as Mohammed Siraj dismantled their top order. Though Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma showed resistance, Prasidh Krishna’s disciplined bowling ensured MI fell short. Now, back on home soil, MI will be eager to turn things around.
With both teams looking to gain momentum, several key player battles could shape the outcome of the MI vs KKR clash.
#1 Quinton de Kock vs Trent Boult
Quinton de Kock, the architect of KKR’s last win, will once again be crucial at the top. However, MI has a weapon against him—Trent Boult. The Kiwi pacer has dismissed de Kock six times in nine T20 encounters, with the left-hander averaging just 8.33 in this battle. If Boult can strike early, MI will gain a massive advantage.
#2 Rohit Sharma vs Harshit Rana
Former MI captain Rohit Sharma will have his task cut out against KKR’s promising pacer Harshit Rana. The youngster has impressed across formats since making his international debut and will be raring to trouble Rohit with the new ball. Rohit, on the other hand, will look to rediscover his form at Wankhede, where he has historically thrived.
#3 Suryakumar Yadav vs Varun Chakravarthy
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20 captain, has struggled for runs lately and will be keen to make a statement. However, he faces a tricky challenge against Varun Chakravarthy. The mystery spinner, a crucial part of KKR’s 2021 title-winning campaign, has started IPL 2025 well and will look to exploit Surya’s recent struggles against spin.
