Delhi Capitals come into the contest as favorites, riding high on a four-match winning streak. Mumbai, on the other hand, are desperately seeking to avoid a fifth defeat in six matches, with Hardik Pandya fighting a lone battle as skipper.
With the memories of last season’s wooden spoon finish still fresh, MI are on the brink of another dismal campaign. In times like these, fans turn to their stalwarts—and Rohit Sharma needs to deliver. The former MI skipper has managed just 38 runs from four matches and needs to fire if Mumbai are to turn their season around.
But Delhi’s bowling unit, especially their spinners, poses a significant challenge. Kuldeep Yadav has been a standout performer this season, picking up eight wickets at an exceptional economy of under six runs per over. Rookie Vipraj Nigam has also made his mark with five wickets, while Axar Patel, despite going wicketless, has maintained control.
Against MI, Axar may well start the proceedings to exploit Rohit’s vulnerability against left-arm spin and wrist spin. Whether it’s Axar, Kuldeep, or Vipraj opening the bowling, Rohit’s early overs will be under the spotlight.
That said, Rohit has enjoyed some success against Mitchell Starc in the past, and how that battle unfolds will be worth watching.
Mumbai’s Middle-Order Concerns
Rohit’s struggles aren’t isolated. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have yet to make meaningful contributions this season, leaving MI’s middle-order fragile. While both have shown glimpses of form, they’ve failed to provide the authority their team desperately needs.
The Bumrah Factor
Jasprit Bumrah’s return has been a major positive for MI. Despite a lengthy layoff, the pacer looked sharp in his comeback game. His face-off with KL Rahul promises to be one of the most exciting contests of the evening—a world-class fast bowler testing a technically sound batter in peak form.
Delhi’s top-order hasn’t yet been tested against elite pace. Jake Fraser-McGurk has looked out of sorts, and Bumrah’s presence will provide a much sterner examination compared to what they’ve faced so far.
Back at Kotla
Sunday’s clash marks Delhi Capitals’ first game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this season, having played their earlier fixtures in Visakhapatnam, their adopted home due to co-owners GMR’s interests in the region.
Traditionally a high-scoring venue in recent IPL seasons, the Kotla track could play differently depending on team strategy. Head coach Hemang Badani and Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao may push for a slightly tacky surface that assists slower bowlers and reduces scoring.
Squads:
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Deepak Chahar, Allah Ghazanfar, Will Jacks, Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Raj Angad Bawa, Satyanarayana Raju, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.
Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (C), Faf du Plessis, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ashutosh Sharma, KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Donovan Ferreira, Tristan Stubbs, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Manvanth Kumar, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav.
