IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians are back — and they mean business

Dubai: They were written off just weeks ago. But now, with four consecutive wins and a squad humming in sync, Mumbai Indians are back — and they’re making it loud and clear. The five-time champions aren’t just picking up points; they’re dismantling opponents, and doing it with the confidence of a side that knows exactly how to win titles.

The 12-run win over Delhi Capitals was the turning point. From bottom-dwellers last season to now being touted as front-runners for a record-extending sixth IPL crown, Mumbai’s resurgence has been both timely and terrifying. The latest win — a seven-wicket hammering of Sunrisers Hyderabad — has pushed them up to third in the table, ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru on net run-rate, with 10 points from nine matches.

The match in Hyderabad began with a sombre moment — a tribute to the victims of the deadly attack in Kashmir, with both teams observing a minute’s silence and wearing black armbands.

Then Mumbai got down to business. Boult and Deepak Chahar ripped apart Hyderabad’s top order, reducing them to 35 for 5 before they limped to 143 for 8. Boult returned figures of 4 for 26 and shared the new ball carnage with Chahar, who also struck twice early.

Chasing a modest target, Mumbai coasted home with 26 balls and seven wickets to spare. Rohit Sharma (70) anchored the chase with class, first adding 64 with England’s Will Jacks (22), then stitching another 53-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav, who smashed a 19-ball 40 not out.

Sunrisers, captained by Pat Cummins, slumped to their sixth defeat in eight matches.

Former captain Rohit Sharma has long been the barometer of Mumbai’s batting fortunes — and he’s hit peak form at just the right time. His unbeaten 76 against Chennai Super Kings was followed by a stylish 70 against Sunrisers — his first back-to-back IPL fifties since 2016.

Along the way, he also became only the second Indian to reach 12,000 T20 runs, joining Virat Kohli in elite company. Kohli tops the Indian chart with 13,208 runs, while T20 legend Chris Gayle leads the all-time list with 14,562.

While Rohit finished things off with the bat, it was Boult and Chahar who set the tone with the ball. The left-arm pacer’s incisive spell earned him the Player of the Match award.

“Nice to contribute to a good win in a big game,” Boult said. “Slightly different role this year, but I’ve enjoyed my time. As the older players used to say, you can’t beat a good yorker.”

Captain Hardik Pandya praised his bowlers and top-order stars for executing the plan to perfection.

“Glad the boys are taking the momentum in the right way,” Pandya said. “Once everyone starts clicking, there will be domination. Deepak and Boult set it up; Rohit and SKY finished it. A wonderful win.”

He also explained the decision to let Chahar bowl out in the powerplay: “Captaincy is about instincts sometimes. He was bowling wonderfully — why hold him back?”

With Rohit back in rhythm, the bowlers doing damage, and the squad finally settled, the signs are clear. Mumbai Indians are surging — now third on the table — and if this version of MI sticks around, a sixth IPL trophy might just be a matter of time.