Last Updated on 7 days by Charbel Coorey

Fans are excited about the powerful playing 11 Mumbai Indians (MI) will field in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. MI had a forgettable campaign in 2024, finishing bottom after the decision to make Hardik Pandya captain not working out following his shock transfer from Gujarat Titans.

The five-time IPL champions made some excellent purchases in the 2025 Mega Auction, including Will Jacks, Trent Boult, Allah Ghazanfar and Mitchell Santner. These, in addition to their retentions, gives them a very strong look indeed.

Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for IPL 2025

Suryakumar Yadav (retained), Rohit Sharma (retained), Tilak Varma (retained), Bevan-John Jacobs (OS), Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton (OS), Krishnan Shrijith, Hardik Pandya (retained), Naman Dhir (RTM), Will Jacks (OS), Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Allah Ghazanfar (OS), Karn Sharma, Mitchell Santner (OS), Jasprit Bumrah (retained), Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult (OS), Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley (OS), Satyanarayana Raju, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams (OS).

MI Predicted Playing 11 for IPL 2025

1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Ryan Rickelton (wk) (OS), 3. Tilak Varma, 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. Will Jacks (OS), 7. Robin Minz, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. Allah Ghazanfar/Mitchell Santner (OS), 10. Trent Boult (OS), 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Possible Impact Player: Karn Sharma

MI’s possible 11 for IPL 2025 looks strong on paper, but they have a couple of questions to answer.

The first is the captain. Hardik struggled in 2024, while Suryakumar Yadav has enjoyed a strong start to life as India’s T20I skipper. Do they persist with Hardik or make the change?

The second is their overseas picks, including who will open with Rohit Sharma. Will Jacks was strong for RCB last season (8 inns, 230 runs, avg. 32.85, SR 175.57) in the opening role, and his purchase is one of the best value for money buys from the IPL 2025 auction. However, Ryan Rickelton, who is also a fantastic talent, offers a wicket-keeping option.

Trent Boult, who was so successful in his previous stint with MI, will surely make up one of the other overseas options. The fourth is an interesting one. Mitchell Santner at INR 2 crore is a steal, but Afghanistan’s Allah Ghazanfar could be preferred.

“I think he’s [Allah Ghazanfar] a great pickup for MI, a real point of difference,” said former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody on ESPNcricinfo’s Auction Day Live program.

“They [MI] desperately needed a spinner that has point of difference. We know that Piyush Chawla has done a sterling job for them over the short term, but at the end of the day, this is a young spinner who could be with MI for many, many years to come as someone that is different.”

Deepak Chahar was also one of MI’s main picks in the auction. If he stays fit and depending on conditions, he can develop an excellent partnership with Boult and Jasprit Bumrah. Hardik Pandya and Will Jacks can then offer the fifth and sixth bowling options.

On the batting front, MI look magnificent. Their retentions gave them a big advantage. Tilak Varma smashed two T20I centuries in a row in South Africa in November, and Suryakumar Yadav remains one of the world’s best T20 players. With Rohit and Rickelton sure to be aggressive at the top, along with Hardik and potentially Will Jacks finishing the innings, opposition teams will have to be at their best to restrict them.