It’s all or nothing for Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals as they clash in a must-win game.

MI’s Fate in Their Hands

After more than two weeks without a match, Mumbai Indians (MI) return to action in a high-stakes showdown. Their equation is simple: win against Delhi Capitals (DC) and book their place in the playoffs. But if they lose, things get tricky — they’ll then rely on the outcomes of DC’s next game against Punjab Kings (PBKS), as well as their own final match.

Although MI currently boast the best net run rate (1.156) in the league, they’d rather not leave their fate to other results.

Déjà Vu for MI Against DC?

Interestingly, MI’s turnaround this season began against DC. Back then, they had lost four out of their first five games. But a dramatic win in Delhi — featuring three run-outs in the final over — sparked a six-match winning streak.

Now, they meet DC again in a crucial contest. Will history repeat itself for MI?

DC’s Slim Chances

For Delhi Capitals, the road to playoffs is steep. A loss on Wednesday will eliminate them. Winning this match but losing the next means they’ll have to hope MI also falter in their last game — a tough scenario considering DC have lost four of their last five and are missing key bowler Mitchell Starc.

Current Form

• Mumbai Indians: L W W W W
• Delhi Capitals: L L L W L

Players to Watch: Bumrah & Rahul

Jasprit Bumrah has been a game-changer since returning from injury. He has bowled effectively in all phases, improving MI’s death-overs economy from 11.18 to 9.07. While DC did target him in their last meeting, that was only his second game back. This time, he plays at Wankhede — where he averages just 12.88 this season.

On the other side, KL Rahul is back in form. Promoted to open the innings in DC’s last game, he delivered with a brilliant century. Now, he heads to Wankhede — a ground where he averages 63.40 in IPL. He also loves playing MI: average 74.23, three hundreds, six fifties — and a strong record against MI bowlers like Bumrah and Boult.

Probable Line-ups

Mumbai Indians (likely XI):
Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch/Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma/Ashwani Kumar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

Delhi Capitals (likely XI):
KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis/Sediqullah Atal, Abishek Porel (wk), Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, T Natarajan, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Dushmantha Chameera

Pitch and Weather Outlook

Wankhede has favoured chasing teams this season — four out of six matches were won by teams batting second. With rain predicted in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, the toss could play a key role, and teams might prefer to bowl first.

Quick Stats

• Suryakumar Yadav has scored 25+ runs in 12 consecutive innings — a record streak in IPL.
• Axar Patel might open the bowling again, especially with a favourable match-up against Rohit Sharma.
• Rohit Sharma needs three sixes to become the first Indian to hit 300 IPL sixes.
• DC’s opening partnership average this season is just 19.83 — the lowest among all teams.

What They Said

Munaf Patel on missing Starc:

“Of course, it matters. He’s our main pacer who swings the ball at 145 kmph. But if he’s not available, we have to move on and look at alternatives.”

Mahela Jayawardene on handling the pressure:

“It’s still just a game of cricket. Whether it’s a final or a league match, the focus is to play good cricket and not get distracted by the hype.”

Final Word

It’s a virtual knockout for DC and a do-or-die for MI. With rain, pressure, and playoff hopes in the mix, Wednesday’s clash at Wankhede promises high drama. Whether it’s MI marching ahead or DC keeping their dream alive — this game will shape the playoff picture.