Mumbai Indians announce replacements for remainder of IPL 2025

Mumbai Indians (MI) have announced three key replacements ahead of the IPL 2025 Playoffs, as several overseas players depart for national duties after MI's final league match. England’s Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and South Africa’s Corbin Bosch will exit the squad, prompting the franchise to bring in new firepower. Explosive English wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has been roped in as a replacement for Jacks and will join the squad at a fee of INR 5.25 crore. Fast bowler Richard Gleeson steps in for Rickelton at a reserve price of INR 1 crore, bringing pace depth to MI’s attack.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan middle-order batter Charith Asalanka replaces Corbin Bosch, signing at a reserve price of INR 75 lakhs. These replacement players will only be available if Mumbai Indians secure a place in the IPL 2025 Playoffs. Their experience could be crucial as MI look to strengthen their campaign in the knockout stages.

The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians have had a promising run in the IPL 2025 season, showcasing some thrilling performances and consistency for most of the tournament. However, despite their solid outings, their path to the Playoffs is far from guaranteed, with their qualification hopes now hanging by a thread. The equation is simple but critical: MI must defeat the Delhi Capitals in Match 62, scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, to keep their fate in their own hands and secure a spot in the top four.

If MI manage to win that crucial clash against DC, they will confirm their place in the Playoffs. However, a loss would complicate things significantly. In that case, Mumbai would not only need to win their final league match but would also have to hope for a favorable outcome in Delhi’s last game — a loss for DC. Interestingly, both MI and DC are set to face the already-qualified Punjab Kings in their final league fixtures.

Given Punjab’s assured Playoff position, their final two opponents will be fighting tooth and nail for survival, making these matchups even more intense. The pressure is high, and Mumbai Indians must bring their A-game if they want to avoid the disappointment of missing out on a Playoff berth after such a strong campaign. With so much at stake, the clash between MI and DC is poised to be one of the most decisive and thrilling contests of the league stage.

A victory in both of their remaining league matches could do more than just secure a Playoff berth for Mumbai Indians — it could also propel them to a second-place finish on the points table. For that to happen, MI will need Royal Challengers Bengaluru (currently second) and Punjab Kings (third) to lose both of their remaining games. If this scenario plays out, MI could leapfrog both teams and finish in the top two, securing a crucial advantage with two opportunities to make it to the final.

This possibility has significantly intensified the race for the final Playoff spots. With the league stage nearing its conclusion, the competition has become fiercer, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Multiple outcomes are still on the cards, and every remaining match now carries massive weight. What makes the situation even more thrilling is that the last few games will see direct battles between teams still in contention, setting up some edge-of-the-seat encounters. As the curtain begins to fall on the league stage, fans can expect a dramatic finish. With only one Playoff spot left realistically up for grabs, the fight between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown.

Updated Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2025

Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Trent Boult, Hardik Pandya, Karn Sharma, Arjun Tendulkar, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Krishnan Shrijith, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Bevon Jacobs, Robin Minz, Deepak Chahar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Reece Topley, Satyanarayana Raju, Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson, Charith Asalanka.