IPL 2025: ‘Once They Reach Playoffs, They’re a Dangerous Team’ – Ambati Rayudu on Mumbai Indians

Add as a preferred source on Google

Former Indian cricketer turned expert for JioStar Ambati Rayudu has said that five-time champions Mumbai Indians' (MI) is a dangerous team once they reach the playoff stages in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rayudu made these comments after Mumbai Indians, the traditional slow-starterd, registered their sixth win in the row, beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) comprehensively by 100 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians kicked off the season with one win in five, clutching to the bottom half of the table. The joint-record champions, however, have since gone on a winning streak to claim the top spot on the IPL 2025 points table, proving to be the side to beat this season.

Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Rayudu highlighted the franchise's ability to stick to roles, play to their strengths, and handle pressure, making them a formidable force in the playoffs with numerous match-winners.

The former India cricketer, who had stints at both five-time champions MI and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), said the success of MI stems from smart planning, like their unusual use of short balls at Wankhede, understanding conditions, and executing well.

"Success of Mumbai Indians comes from smart planning--look at the number of short balls they bowled today, which is rare at Wankhede. But they understood the conditions and executed well," JioStar expert Ambati Rayudu said while speaking on Match Centre Live on JioHotstar.

"When it comes to the business end of the IPL, Mumbai Indians get into a trance - they stick to roles, play to their strengths, and handle pressure better than most. Once they make it to the playoffs, they become a formidable team. You can pick 9-10 individual match-winners in their playing XI."

MI bowlers Karn Sharma, Trent Boult, and Jasprit Bumrah powered MI to a commanding victory, bowling out RR for a paltry 117 in their pursuit of a huge target of 218, which was set up by the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav.

Karn Sharma (3/23) and Boult (3/28) were the pick of the bowlers for MI, with Bumrah also delivering a pressurising four-over spell of 2/15. Skipper Hardik also got a wicket. Rickelton was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his swift fifty, but Rayudu picked out one player who has been the key to MI batting.

"The kind of pressure Suryakumar Yadav puts on bowlers is enormous. Bowlers have dealt with big hitters and clever batters, but he's both. He can go straight down the ground or behind the wicketkeeper - he's got the versatility. He never lets bowlers dominate, regardless of conditions. That's what makes him special," Rayudu added.

Mumbai Indians will next look to put one foot in the playoffs when they face fellow IPL 2025 top four sides Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (May 6).