Mumbai Indians (MI) have retained their top stars and core of the team ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction. With the likes of Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma retained, the MI management built the rest of the team around them.

Going into the new season, MI will hope to overcome the horrors of IPL 2024, where they finished at the bottom of the table. They already have armed players in their squad and have managed to strengthen it even further with more strategic additions.

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MI’s lineup has incredible firepower, especially their top 7. Let’s discuss what their roles will be and how they will contribute in the upcoming IPL 2025 season.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has earned a reputation as one of the most explosive batsmen at the top of the order. With 6,628 runs in 252 innings, he is the third highest run-scorer in IPL history and will be relied upon to go full throttle and make the most of the powerplay overs.

Robin Minz

Robin Minz, the first Adivasi (tribal) player in IPL, gives MI the LHB-RHB batting combination, opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. Touted as the ‘Chris Gayle of Jharkhand’, Minz is a comparable replacement for Ishan Kishan.

Minz, a hard-hitting left-hander, missed his IPL debut last season due to a freak bicycle accident. Therefore, the boundless wicketkeeper-batsman will be highly motivated to make an impact in his first season.

tilak varma

Tilak Varma’s journey is another example of Mumbai Indians’ long-standing commitment to developing young talent. Varma, who joined the team in 2022, has witnessed a steady rise in his growth curve.

Varma has impressed with his consistency and particularly his explosive batting skills. MI will be counting on him to turn the tide of the innings when he comes out to bat in the middle order.

Suryakumar Yadav

The Indian T20I captain has consistently been one of the standout players in the team. Known for his dynamic 360-degree batting style, he is an essential player for Mumbai Indians.

If the top order struggles, Surya possesses the skills to stabilize the innings and then take control, leading his side’s charge.

jacks

Will Jacks is an explosive addition to MI’s middle order, just as they used Tim David until last season. Although Jacks has played just one season in the IPL, think tank MI bid aggressively for him, splashing INR 5.25 crore on him.

The 26-year-old English batting all-rounder boasts great power and brute strength and has all the capabilities to put away any kind of bowling attack when he is ready. He also offers a useful option when bowling a few overs with his off-break deliveries.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is a proven contender with both bat and ball. He has the ability to finish matches and make crucial breakthroughs by taking wickets. However, MI captaincy and Rohit’s replacement definitely took a toll on him, as evident from his and the team’s performance last season.

He recently looked in good touch in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), playing some explosive innings. Pandya will be hoping to continue his form in the IPL 2025 season as he has his work cut out for him to live up to his high standards.

Mitchell Santner

Bought for INR 2 crore, spin bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner is a good addition to complement his captain and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The Kiwi’s defensive and precise bowling style, combined with his ability to deliver under pressure, could prove useful for MI on smaller wickets.

Furthermore, Santner’s batting prowess should not be overlooked as he is a reliable option in the lower order when quick and impactful runs are required.

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