Gill, Bairstow In Focus: Key Factors That Could Decide Winner Of MI vs GT IPL 2025 Eliminator

MI will take on GT in IPL 2025 Eliminator [Source: @iplt20.com]

The IPL 2025 playoffs are heating up and it’s crunch time now! Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans are set to take on Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday, May 30.

Both teams looked like contenders for a top-two finish not long ago but late stumbles saw them slip to third and fourth, respectively. Now, it’s do-or-die territory: win and move on, lose and go home. The two sides are dealing with key overseas players heading back for national duties, but replacements have been slotted in and match-ups are looking juicy.

Let’s break down the 3 key factors that can decide the outcome of MI vs GT IPL 2025 match.

1. Sudharsan-Gill vs Boult-Bumrah Battle

This right here is the big one. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have been Gujarat's engine room this season. They have piled on the runs for fun: 679 and 649 runs respectively in 14 games each. But now they are up against the two-headed pace monster of Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.

Table - Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill IPL Stats Vs Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah

The numbers don’t lie. Against this very pair, Sudharsan and Gill have faced 142 balls, scored just 140 runs, and been dismissed 6 times. That’s an average of 23.3 and a strike rate under 100, not great, not terrible, but certainly not dominant either.

If these two can see off the new ball and get GT off to a flier, they’ll be in business. But if Boult and Bumrah get the early breakthrough? It might be curtains before GT even gets going.

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2. How Bairstow’s First Game Pans Out For MI

Mumbai are missing Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks and Corbin Bosch and that’s a big hole. Especially Rickelton, who has been a rock at the top with 388 runs at a strike rate close to 151. In comes Jonny Bairstow, and he will be walking into the Eliminator cold which is not ideal.

Table - Ryan Rickelton IPL 2025 Stats

He will be opening with Rohit, who has been hot and cold this season. If Bairstow doesn’t click, the pressure on Suryakumar Yadav will be enormous. Tilak Varma’s form has dipped too so Mumbai can’t afford Bairstow to have an off day. 

Table - Jonny Bairstow IPL Stats

If he fires, though, MI suddenly look a lot more balanced. It’s a gamble, but this is Bairstow and we know he doesn’t need much time to catch fire.

3. Rashid’s MI Record And Krishna’s Middle-Over Magic

Rashid Khan has had a shocker this season. Just 9 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 9.47 is a far cry from his usual standards. But here’s the kicker: Rashid loves playing against Mumbai. In 17 innings, he’s taken 21 wickets against them at a miserly economy of 6.02.

Table - Rashid Khan Stats vs MI In IPL

So what will it be in the Eliminator? The Rashid of old? Or the 2025 version that’s been struggling? His performance will largely determine the outcome of the game.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Prasidh Krishna has been on fire. Second on the Purple Cap list with 23 wickets and his specialty has been the middle overs. Between overs 7 to 15 in IPL 2025, he has bowled 28 overs, taken 7 wickets and gone at just 6.75 per over, massive in a T20 setting.

Table - Prasidh Krishna IPL 2025 Stats In The Middle Overs (7-15)

If Krishna can keep things tight and Rashid can roll back the years, GT could choke MI in the middle like a boa constrictor. But if Rashid has another off day, the pressure will fall hard on the rest of the attack.

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