Why is Will Jacks not playing GT vs MI IPL 2025 Eliminator clash? Check MI playing XI

In an important news development, the Mumbai Indians (MI) are playing without their premier overseas all-rounder Will Jacks in the penultimate Eliminator clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) against the Gujarat Titans (GT) being hosted at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. The Mumbai Indians will be aiming to make a comeback after they suffered a poor defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final league stage match. However, in order to win their record sixth title, the Hardik Pandya-led MI team will have to win three back-to-back matches and things won't be that much easy in the IPL 2025 playoffs. 

Why is Will Jacks not playing today's GT vs MI IPL 2025 Eliminator match?

It is definitely a big setback for the Mumbai Indians that their match-winning all-rounder Will Jacks is not part of the MI playing XI for this important Eliminator clash against the Gujarat Titans on Thursday. Incidentally, the England cricketer is unavailable as he has already joined his national team for the white-ball series against West Indies at home. He notched up a crucial cameo of 39 runs off 24 deliveries in the ENG vs WI 1st ODI match on Thursday where the home team registered a massive 238-run win. 

Interestingly, Will Jacks has given important performances for the Mumbai Indians this season both in the batting as well as bowling departments. The swashbuckling right-hander has scored a total of 233 runs from 14 games at a strike-rate of over 135. As an off-spinner, he has also taken as many as 6 wickets at an economy rate of 8.57. In his absence, Mumbai Indians have included the duo of Raj Angad Bawa and Richard Gleeson in the MI playing 11. 

"We're going to bat. Looks like a different track to yesterday. Bit of less grass. Big game, scoring runs and defending would be nice. We all are aware, for the last 9 games we have been playing it like a knockout. Really need to turn up today and focus on the things which we can control. We've got three changes: Jonny comes back, Gleeson makes his debut and Raj Angad Bawa plays," said Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya during the toss. 

Straight from the English pace factory 🏎💨

Gleeson makes his debut in Blue & Gold 💙✨#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #TATAIPL #GTvMI pic.twitter.com/0E6VAgN7Ur

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 30, 2025

MI 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 IPL 2025 Squad

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