IPL 2025 Eliminator: Rohit Sharma Carries Mumbai’s Hopes as Titans Loom Without Buttler

With Buttler gone and Rashid struggling, Gujarat Titans face a reinvigorated Mumbai side led by Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in a knockout clash with everything at stake.

Arun Upadhayay 4 weeks agoLast Updated: June 8, 2025

8 3 minutes read

There are no safety nets left in the IPL 2025. When Mumbai Indians (MI) walk into Mullanpur’s cricket cauldron on Friday to face Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Eliminator, it won’t just be about staying alive in the tournament — it’ll be about making a statement.

And right at the centre of that statement sits Rohit Sharma.

The former MI captain, senior statesman, and undoubted crowd-puller, has had a season that flickered in patches. Three half-centuries. A best of 76 not out. A strike rate that reads 147.53, healthy by any T20 standard. But his 329 runs from 13 innings aren’t numbers that rattle oppositions anymore.

What complicates the conversation is his playoff record. It’s not great. In 21 IPL knockouts — for MI and the now-defunct Deccan Chargers — Rohit has scored just 316 runs. That’s an average of 15.80, strike rate below 110, and only two fifties — both in finals. He got them right when it mattered most — one in 2015 against CSK, another in 2020 vs DC. But those are distant memories now.

In his last 10 playoff innings, he has two 50+ scores and 207 runs total. Not the kind of form you hang your hat on heading into a knockout.

Yet, here’s why the spotlight will refuse to leave him: Rohit Sharma is 43 runs away from 7,000 in the IPL. Only Virat Kohli, with 8,618 runs, has crossed that line. And it’s not just about numbers. For a player who has been synonymous with MI’s dominance in the league, getting to that mark in a high-pressure match could add another layer to his legacy.

What’s Changed in the Mumbai Camp

With Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks both out due to national duty, Mumbai’s top order is in flux. But they’ve plugged the gap with Jonny Bairstow — the explosive Englishman who recently notched up twin fifties for Yorkshire. It was red-ball cricket, sure, but he’ll bring muscle and experience to the MI batting unit.

The real confidence for Mumbai, though, stems from their bowling — or rather, Jasprit Bumrah. The pacer missed the first four games this season due to a back niggle. Didn’t matter. He’s stormed back with 17 wickets at 6.33 economy — his best figures in any IPL campaign.

Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and Mitchell Santner offer variation. MI’s bowling looks settled, calculated, and more importantly — ruthless.

Gujarat’s Top-Order Puzzle

Across the aisle, Gujarat Titans arrive at this match with a headache. Losing Jos Buttler to England duties just before a knockout? That stings. He’s been a vital part of their top-heavy lineup. Now, Kusal Mendis, who hasn’t played an IPL game before and last featured in a competitive match more than a month ago, walks into a furnace.

It’s not ideal.

GT will again look to Shubman Gill (649 runs) and B Sai Sudharsan (679 runs) — both sitting among the top three scorers of the season — to lay the platform. If one of them doesn’t bat deep, Gujarat could be in serious trouble.

The middle order? Decent on paper. But Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, and Rahul Tewatia haven’t had to win games under playoff pressure yet.

Rashid Khan, their usual match-winner, has had a forgettable tournament. Nine wickets in 14 games, an economy pushing 9.5, and a staggering 31 sixes conceded — tied for the most ever in a single IPL season.

Pitch Watch: Mullanpur’s Mood Swings

If there’s one wildcard here, it’s the pitch. Mullanpur has behaved unpredictably. One game saw 201 not defended. Another ended with a team winning after scoring just 111. In Qualifier 1, Punjab Kings were bowled out for 101.

Reports suggest a fresh strip will be used for this game. Cloudy skies are expected but no rain. With both teams packed with stroke-makers, early movement could prove decisive.

What’s At Stake?

The winner gets to face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2. Beyond that lies a place in the final, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. For Mumbai, this is about legacy — chasing that elusive sixth IPL title. For GT, it’s about surviving and making their second final in three seasons.

And for Rohit Sharma? This could be his last big run at an IPL title in MI blue. He’s no longer captain. But as senior-most pro, record-chaser, and talismanic opener — the spotlight refuses to dim.

Probable XIs

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Charith Asalanka, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), B Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Arshad Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj

Verdict? It’s Rohit Time — Or Never

He’s scored in finals. He’s delivered trophies. But the playoffs — outside of those two nights — haven’t been his territory. Will Rohit Sharma finally break that trend?

He doesn’t have to score 100. He just needs to stand up. And if he does, Mumbai may just march on.

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Author Profile

Arun Upadhayay

Sports Contributor at Hindustan Herald | Web

Arun Upadhayay is a sports journalist and former district-level cricketer with over four years of experience in event production and digital content. Currently freelancing with the India Today Group, Arun brings a deep understanding of sports and storytelling. His work blends expert analysis, live event insights, and engaging coverage of the game.