IPL 2025: 3 MI Players To Watch Out For In Vijay Hazare Trophy

Muskaan Bhatt

The Mumbai Indians Team In IPL 2024 (Source: IPL.com)The Mumbai Indians Team In IPL 2024 (Source: IPL.com)

After the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the thrilling domestic season continues as Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024 is all set to begin on December 21, Saturday. The highly anticipated tournament features 38 teams who will clash in 135 matches across 20 venues all over India. The teams are divided into five groups, and after seven league rounds, the top 10 teams will advance to the knockouts. This tournament also includes numerous star players who will be headlining this affair. 

With the Indian Premier League 2025 just around the corner, let us take a look at the three Mumbai Indians players to watch out for in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy:

1) Suryakumar Yadav

After a brilliant outing with Mumbai in SMAT 2024, Suryakumar Yadav shifts his focus to the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Looking at Mr. 360's stats, he has featured in 139 List A games and accumulated 3627 runs, with a personal best of 134 not out. 

Despite playing only a handful of games, he was a crucial part of Mumbai's squad, wildly when he smashed a 46-ball 70 against Services and then quick 48 runs in the final that eventually helped Mumbai clinch their second SMAT title. India's T20I captain has looked in good form and touch, hence he would be a crucial piece in Mumbai's Vijay Hazare journey.

2) Hardik Pandya

Baroda's run machine, Hardik Pandya, was on fire in the recently concluded SMAT 2024 tournament, where he justified his title as a top-gun finisher. In the tournament, Pandya slammed 246 runs from 7 innings at a reasonable strike rate of 193. His last-minute power-throughs helped Baroda stage a fighting total against the opposition. Hardik's performance wasn't limited to just batting as he also impressed with the ball, taking six wickets in 5 innings.

Moreover, looking at Pandya's List A stats, he has been a part of 107 matches and has amassed 2103 runs with a high score of an unbeaten 92. Although, as per reports, Pandya will be missing the first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, all eyes will be on him when he returns.

3) Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma, the 22-year-old Mumbai Indians star has been the talk of the town ever since he became the first ever player to slam three centuries on the trot in T20 cricket. His raging form and brilliant performance in SMAT 2024 has helped him put together a mammoth of 327 runs from just 6 innings with a best score of 151 runs off 67 balls against Meghalaya.

In List A, Tilak has played 29 games and collected 1304 runs, with such good stats and performance backing him, he is sure to make a mark in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.