Mumbai Indians' road to redemption: How Hardik Pandya and Co engineered their IPL 2025 resurgence

The Mumbai Indians are no strangers to resurgence. If anything, their legacy is built on the rubble of bad starts. But even by their own standards, the turnaround in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been quite extraordinary. With a commanding 59-run win over Delhi Capitals at Wankhede on Wednesday, sealing the final playoff berth, the five-time former champions—once languishing with just one win in five games—have clawed their way back into title contention with a brand of cricket that’s as gutsy as it is strategic.

The turning point

Ironically, the first flicker of revival came against the very side they just crushed to book their playoff spot. Rewind to April, and Mumbai were walking wounded: four losses in five games, under a relatively new captain, with their spearhead Jasprit Bumrah only just returning from a long injury layoff, and their batting engine room misfiring. But at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, things began to shift—if not in dominance, then in sheer desperation.

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That tense evening was headed for another defeat until three run-outs in a manic final over flipped the script. MI escaped with a win—barely. It didn’t look like a comeback. But that scrappy victory lit a fuse. It would go on to become the first of six successive wins, a streak that redefined their season and gave Hardik Pandya’s team something far more valuable than just two points: belief.

Building with the ball

Much of MI’s transformation came from realigning their strengths. While the early season saw erratic bowling and blurred roles, the combination of Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult brought the Powerplay to life. Mumbai Indians have taken more wickets in the first six overs than any other team during the league stage so far, with Chahar and Boult combining for 23 breakthroughs in that crucial phase. Their early strikes often left opponents reeling—such as reducing Rajasthan Royals to 21/3 and Kolkata Knight Riders to 26/4 within the Powerplay. This aggressive new-ball approach laid the foundation for Mumbai’s mid-season resurgence.

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This dominance up front allowed Mumbai to control games early and Bumrah’s return tightened the noose further. Their death-overs economy rate in the first four games—played without Bumrah—was a concerning 11.18. Since his return, it has improved dramatically to just 9.07, thanks to his pinpoint accuracy and game awareness. Bumrah has spread his 36 overs smartly across the Powerplay, middle, and death, with an overall economy of 6.39—the best among frontline pacers this season. And of course, he took wickets at crucial junctures—making him the go-to bowler for the skipper in crunch moments.

The team’s dot-ball percentage also jumped to 41% in the second half of the season, a figure that speaks volumes about their control over match tempo. With tighter lines and smarter field placements, MI began to squeeze opposition sides into submission.

Strategically, Mumbai learned to protect their soft spots. Mitchell Santner and Karn Sharma were deployed in short, impactful spells rather than being stretched. Pandya himself bowled sparingly but was tactically sharp, often keeping his frontline pacers fresh for crunch phases.

Surya and the support cast

In the early stages of the tournament, MI’s batting was sputtering. They struggled for momentum in the Powerplay and clarity in the middle overs. But by the season’s second half, things turned dramatically. The team’s overall batting strike rate surged from below 140 to over 151, the second-best in the league—a clear indicator of their more aggressive, confident approach.

At the centre of this batting revival was Suryakumar Yadav. His unbeaten 73 against Delhi on Wednesday, full of inventive stroke play and ice-cool composure, was only the latest in a run of brilliance. He has amassed over 580 runs at a strike-rate above 170, averaging nearly 73. His streak of 13 consecutive 25+ scores is the longest in IPL history and a testament to his consistency and class.

But Surya hasn’t done it alone. Ryan Rickelton, after a slow start, delivered punchy top-order knocks and has tallied over 350 runs. Tilak Varma, who earlier in the season was retired out during a run chase against the Lucknow Super Giants, has since chipped in with a string of 30-plus cameos, while Naman Dhir has emerged as an unlikely lower-order hero, scoring at a brisk clip and averaging close to 40. These weren’t just bonus runs—they were often the difference between 175 and 190.

Rohit Sharma, while not prolific, has worn the stabiliser’s hat, blending his innings with timely boundaries. Will Jacks made his opportunities count, mostly batting at No. 3—particularly when Mumbai lost early wickets—and often chipped in with the ball as well.

As a result of these collective performances, Mumbai stopped relying on one or two match-winners. Instead, they began functioning as a cohesive unit—every part ticking, everyone contributing.

A captain learning on the Job

The transition from Rohit to Pandya was never going to be seamless. Following last year’s disasters—both on and off the field—the early-season boos and divided loyalties reflected that discomfort. But as the team turned the tide, Pandya grew into the role. He recalibrated not just his tactics but his temperament. His field placements became more aggressive, his rotation of bowlers more intuitive, and his in-game adaptability visibly improved. He also stepped back from bowling full spells, focusing instead on managing resources effectively.

More importantly, the dressing room began to respond. Mumbai no longer looked like a team burdened by expectations; they began to play with the swagger of a side that had weathered the storm.

A sea of blue. A salute of gratitude 💙#MI walk the Wankhede one last time this season, with a playoff ticket in hand 🏟#TATAIPL | #MIvDC | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/yHX3m4cYH3

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 21, 2025

The fans: From frustration to frenzy

No IPL narrative is complete without its fans, and Mumbai’s faithful have ridden the emotional rollercoaster alongside their team. The early-season jeers directed at Pandya were a manifestation of collective frustration. But as victories piled up, the atmosphere transformed. Wankhede Stadium, once echoing with skepticism, now reverberates with chants of “Hardik! Hardik!”, “Surya! Surya!” and of course “Rohit! Rohit!”

Social media platforms have been ablaze with fan-made tributes, memes celebrating the team’s turnaround and heartfelt messages of support. The sea of blue in the stands, waving flags and donning jerseys, symbolises a renewed unity between the team and its supporters. The emotional investment of the fans has been both a reflection and a catalyst of Mumbai’s resurgence.

The road ahead

From just one win in their first five matches, Mumbai Indians went on to win seven of their next eight, sealing their playoff fate with a game to spare. They may not top the points table, but they are undeniably the most dangerous team in the knockouts—armed with momentum, belief and the muscle memory of past comebacks.

There is, however, one final twist. With Jacks, Rickelton and Corbin Bosch set to depart for national duty, the management has added Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson and Charith Asalanka as temporary replacements. These are quality players, but integrating them into a settled system during the playoffs could be tricky.

That said, if IPL 2025 has shown anything, it’s this: underestimate Mumbai Indians at your own peril. Delhi may have opened the door with that last-over implosion weeks ago. But Mumbai have kicked it wide open—and now they’re charging through it, with purpose and pedigree in tow.