Mumbai Indians’ Struggles Continue: Powerplay Woes Haunt Them Yet Again
The IPL 2025 season hasn’t exactly gone the way Mumbai Indians would have wanted it to. With only one win in five games, the five-time champions are finding themselves in an unusually uncomfortable position. And according to head coach Mahela Jayawardene, a major chunk of their problems can be traced back to the powerplay — both while bowling and batting.
Yes, you read that right. Despite having big names and match-winners in their lineup, MI has failed to dominate the early overs — a crucial phase that often sets the tone for the rest of the match. Let’s dive deep into what’s going wrong for them and what’s next on their plate.
🔍 What Went Wrong Against RCB?
Facing off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on a lively Monday evening, Mumbai Indians were hoping to turn things around. But what they got instead was another disappointment — a 12-run defeat that handed them their fourth loss in five matches this season.
Coach Jayawardene didn’t mince words in the post-match press conference. “The powerplay is a concern for us with the ball and the bat,” he admitted. “In the last few games as well, we’ve been leaking way too many runs in those first six overs, and not getting early breakthroughs consistently.”
And if you watched the game, it was hard to disagree.
💣 RCB’s Early Onslaught: Kohli & Padikkal Light It Up
RCB, who’ve had their own share of ups and downs, came out with intent. Though Mumbai got off to what looked like a promising start — Trent Boult dismissing a batter in the very first over — the pressure didn’t last long.
Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal turned the tide quickly, hammering boundaries and rotating strike smartly. A particularly expensive over from Deepak Chahar, where he conceded 20 runs, gave RCB the momentum they needed.
By the end of the powerplay, RCB were cruising at 73 for 1, which is not just a strong start — it was the second-highest powerplay score against MI at the Wankhede and the fourth-highest overall against them in IPL history. That’s not a stat any team wants associated with them.
📉 Bowling in Powerplay: MI’s Achilles’ Heel
Let’s talk numbers for a second. Mumbai Indians currently have the worst economy rate in the powerplay this season — a staggering 10.36. That’s like giving the opposition a flying start every single game. Not only that, but they’ve also picked up only six wickets in that phase across five games. For a team that once prided itself on tight bowling and early breakthroughs, this is a glaring issue.
And it’s not just about this one match — this has been a recurring theme throughout their campaign so far.
🏏 The Chase: Hopeful Start, But Momentum Lost
Chasing a massive target of 222, MI needed their batters to fire on all cylinders from the get-go. For a brief moment, it looked like they just might pull off something special.
Jayawardene reflected, “We actually had a good start with the bat too. But we lost two quick wickets, and from there, we had to slow things down and rebuild. That’s where we lost momentum.”
By the end of their own powerplay, MI were at 54/2. Respectable? Yes. Enough? Not quite. Especially when you’re chasing over 220 runs.
So far in IPL 2025, Mumbai have lost 10 wickets during the powerplay — second only to Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have lost 12. These early blows have left their middle order with too much to do, and against quality attacks, that’s never easy.
⚠️ Margins Are Thin – And MI’s Not Clicking
Jayawardene also pointed out something crucial: “Margins in this competition are very small. If you don’t take your chances or lose control for even an over or two, the game can slip away fast.” He emphasized how the sixth over — a big one for RCB — turned the tide against MI.
Despite having world-class players, MI’s performances have looked disconnected. Some games have seen the batting click but the bowling fail, and in others, both departments have been sub-par. That lack of synchronization is what’s hurting them most.
✍️ Key Takeaways for MI Fans and Critics Alike
Here are some quick pointers that summarize the situation for Mumbai Indians:
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🔥 Powerplay Problems: Most expensive bowling unit in powerplay (10.36 economy rate).
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🎯 Low Wicket Count: Only 6 powerplay wickets taken so far.
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📉 Top-Order Wobbles: 10 wickets lost in powerplay — second-worst in IPL 2025.
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⚠️ Inconsistent Execution: Even with star players, MI isn’t playing as a unit.
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⌛ Mid-Innings Momentum Dip: Losing wickets or slowing down right when the pace needs to go up.
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📅 Next Challenge: Delhi Capitals on April 13 at Arun Jaitley Stadium — a crucial game to stay afloat.
🛠️ What Can Be Done?
Now, let’s not forget — Mumbai Indians is a franchise that’s been through rough patches before. They know how to bounce back. But the current form suggests serious introspection is needed, especially in the powerplay strategy department.
Whether it’s a rethink on opening combinations, bowling match-ups, or tactical field placements — something needs to change, and fast. Getting the basics right in the first six overs can dramatically shift their momentum in the remaining part of the match.
One option could be shuffling the bowling attack a bit — maybe using spinners early on, or introducing more aggressive field settings to force mistakes. On the batting front, encouraging freedom in the powerplay might help ease pressure later in the innings.
🏟️ Next Up: High-Stakes Clash Against DC
With their next match scheduled against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 13, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win there might not fix everything overnight, but it’ll certainly give the team a much-needed boost in morale.
If Mumbai can manage to tighten up their powerplay approach, both with the bat and ball, there’s no reason why they can’t turn things around. The talent is definitely there — it’s all about clicking at the right moments.
So MI fans, hang in there! The season’s far from over, and if there’s any team that knows how to bounce back dramatically, it’s this one. Keep your blue flags ready — you never know when the roar might return!
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