Mumbai Indians (MI) will aim to take a step towards winning a historic sixth Indian Premier League (IPL) title when they face Gujarat Titans (GT) in a blockbuster clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Friday (May 30).

After losing a golden chance to secure a top-two finish following a defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS), the Hardik Pandya-led side needs to win the IPL from the eliminator. In the league's history, only once (SRH in 2016) has a team won the IPL since the playoff system was introduced in 2011 after not finishing in the top two.

The five-time champions have been hit with a further blow as they are without three key overseas with Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch have left to join South Africa's preparation for the World Test Championship (WTC) final while Will Jacks had to leave for nation duty as England are playing an ODI seires against West Indies.

While Bosch only played three games for MI in IPL 2025 and did not feature post the league's resumption, Rickelton and Jacks have been key to their success and their absence leaves MI with a major hole in their top order.

While Rickelton has been opening the batting with Rohit, Jacks has largely batted at number three but it is his all-round brilliance that has been important for MI with his off-spin making the difference

Jonny Bairstow and Charith Asalanka have been signed by the franchise as temporary replacements and are expected to be directly drafted into the playing XI.

Bairstow will open the batting with Rohit and keep wickets, while Asalanka will not just offer a solid middle order option but also an off-spin bowling option.

Asalanka could bat at number four or five, which could give MI the chance to use Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav higher up the order.

Karn Sharma should return to the line-up after MI opted for an extra pacer against PBKS. Elsewhere, no changes are expected from the five-time champions, who have found a settled combination and won seven of their last nine games.

MI Likely XII vs GT: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (WK0, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma,i Charith Asalanka, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma

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