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Narine To Trouble Rohit Again? 5 Player Battles To Watch Out In MI vs KKR IPL 2025 Match



Sunil Narine and Rohit Sharma (Source: @IPL/X.com)Sunil Narine and Rohit Sharma (Source: @IPL/X.com)

In another highly anticipated encounter in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL), the Mumbai Indians will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This enthralling encounter will go ahead on March 31st with a lot at stake.

While Mumbai are coming off two disheartening losses against Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans, the Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have won one out of their two games against Rajasthan Royals, while losing the other against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

So, therefore, let's have a look at the five player battles that could be crucial in this MI vs KKR IPL 2025 encounter.

1. Rohit Sharma vs Sunil Narine

Criterion
Data
Innings21
Runs
143
Dismissals
8
Balls134
Average17.87
Strike Rate106.71
  • Rohit Sharma's form hasn't been in great form with just 8 in the last game against Gujarat Titans.
  • Rohit has particularly struggled against Sunil Narine, with as many as eight dismissals in 21 innings against the off-spinner.
  • Sunil's tight line and length have troubled Rohit, as he hasn't been able to get going against the off-spinner with a strike rate below 106.71, while the average isn't great either at 17.87.

2. Hardik Pandya vs Andre Russell

Criterion
Data
Innings7
Runs
35
Dismissals
2
Balls24
Average17.50
Strike Rate145.83
  • Hardik Pandya's credentials against KKR's Andre Russell are average with just 35 runs from 24 balls, he has been dismissed twice.
  • While Pandya likes to go big in the death overs, Russell is a death-over specialist who can be daunting to face with his accurate line as he has some variations along with pace.
  • Pandya generally likes pace on the ball, whereas Russell can outwit Pandya with his slower deliveries, especially in the death overs when he's looking to go berserk right from ball one. Historically, Hardik has an average of just 17.50 against Russell.
  • In this encounter, Russell would try to bowl wide yorkers to Pandya, while the right-hander will be eyeing to move closer to the wide line to ensure he stays in reach of the ball.

3. Ajinkya Rahane vs Deepak Chahar

Criterion
Data
Innings4
Runs
21
Dismissals
4
Balls23
Average5.25
Strike Rate91.30
  • Another valued match-up in this encounter will be between ex-CSK teammates Ajinkya Rahane and Deepak Chahar.
  • Chahar has clearly dominated Rahane in the four matches they have played against each other as in all those, Chahar has bagged Rahane's wicket, while the right-hander's average is a mere 5.25.
  • Rahane is generally troubled by the ball moving away from him, whereas Deepak is a master of swing deliveries, especially in the power play.
  • However, another thing to know is that Rahane has an excellent record at Wankhede, where he goes aggressive right from the start because of the extra bounce in the red soil.

4. Sunil Narine vs Trent Boult

Criterion
Data
Innings3
Runs
19
Dismissals
3
Balls15
Average6.33
Strike Rate126.66
  • Although Sunil Narine is a massive big hitter, especially in the power play, he has had difficulty facing left-arm pacer Trent Boult.
  • In three games these two have faced each other, Boult has managed to send Narine back on all three occasions.
  • With an average of just 6.33 and a strike rate of 126.66, Boult is clearly ahead at the moment. His away-moving deliveries to the left-hander have caused Sunil problems, as he often tends to edge the ball going away from him.

5. Andre Russell vs Trent Boult

Criterion
Data
Innings4
Runs
21
Dismissals
2
Balls10
Average10.50
Strike Rate210.00
  • The big-hitting death-over specialist Andre Russell has had problems against Trent Boult, who has dismissed him on two occasions out of four.
  • On 10 deliveries, Russell has smashed Boult for 21 runs, which takes his strike rate to 210, but the average is just 10.5, indicating that Boult does get Russell out when it matters.
  • Additionally, Trent is a master of bowling yorkers in the death overs, while Russell is a big-hitting specialist. So, therefore, it will be an even match-up where either can prevail.
  • If the line is missed even by an inch, Russell can dominate him meaning Boult has to be spot-on with his line and length. Bowling to Russell can be quite daunting in the death overs, for which Trent Boult is quite equipped, with plenty of experience under his belt.