Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans have geared up for their IPL 2025 Eliminator clash with a host of changes to their playing XIs. With key overseas star ruled out due to national duty, both teams have handed caps to their temporary replacements as they aim to stay in the competition. Jonny Bairstow and Richard Gleeson make their debuts for MI, while Kusal Mendis replaces Jos Buttler at GT for Shubman Gill.
Gujarat Titans Playing XI: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis(w), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson
MI Playing XI: Deepak Chahar ruled out, Bairstow replaces Ryan Rickelton
Mumbai Indians are one of the worst-affected sides due to the IPL 2025’s revised schedule, losing 4 players to national duty. Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks and Corbin Bosch all unavailable. To add to their woes, Deepak Chahar also suffered an injury ruling him out of the GT vs MI game.
MI have since turned to English duo Richard Gleeson and Jonny Bairstow to plug that gap. Raj Bawa also makes a return to the XI. Bairstow will likely open alongside Rohit Sharma, forming a blockbuster partnership. The veteran Englishman featured for the Punjab Kings last season and would have an idea of the conditions on offer in Mullanpur.
GT Playing XI: No Kagiso Rabada, Kusal Mendis comes in for Jos Buttler
Gujarat Titans have been heavily reliant on their Top 3 in IPL 2025 and have now lost Jos Buttler to national duty. The former MI star is the third-highest run-getter for GT this season, scoring 538 runs in 13 innings. Buttler was also Gill’s designated wicket-keeper, leaving a huge gap in the side.
In his absence, GT have now roped in Kusal Mendis. The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper will slot in at Buttler’s No.3 spot and hope to make his chance count. Mendis has had a stellar couple of years in international cricket and will hope to aid GT’s hunt for a second title.
