Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
New Delhi: Five-time champions Mumbai Indians are facing a tough campaign in IPL 2026, languishing at the bottom of the points table with just one win from five matches and a poor net run rate of -1.076.
The Hardik Pandya-led side will look to revive their season when they take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday.Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans have bounced back impressively after losing their first two matches, recording three straight wins. Their bowling unit has rediscovered its rhythm, with Prasidh Krishna among the leading wicket-takers, while Rashid Khan dominates the mid-on.
Mohamed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada also seemed to be in good touch.
He watches
IPL 2026: RR assistant coach Vikram Rathore speaks out after the loss to KKR
Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, struggled to gain momentum. After ending a long series of defeats in the opening matches, the team fell to a bad level after four consecutive defeats.
With MI taking on GT, here are five key battles between the two players that could shape the contest:Shubman Gill Against Jasprit BumrahThis can be said to be the main conflict. Gill has been in fine touch this season, while Bumrah, though economical, is still searching for his first wicket.
Historically, Bumrah has kept Gill in check – the GT skipper scored just 34 runs off 38 balls at a strike rate of 89.5 and was dismissed twice, managing only four boundaries and not six.
Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso RabadaIf Rohit is fit, this promises to be a great fight. Rohit’s elegance matches Rabada’s speed and discipline. In the T20s, Rohit scored 38 off 27 balls against Rabada at a strike rate of 140.7 but was dismissed twice, with 14 dot balls highlighting Rabada’s control.
He watches
Ashok Sharma’s story: Inside the village and the home that shaped India’s new sense of pace
rashid khan vs Hardik PandyaFew bowlers can contain Hardik when he gets going, but Rashid often manages to do so. Pandya scored just 28 runs off 38 balls against Rashid at a strike rate of 73.7 and was dismissed twice, with 22 dot balls underscoring Rashid’s dominance.Ashok Sharma vs Suryakumar YadavSuryakumar Yadav has the ability to turn games around, but his poor form has hurt MI this season. He scored just 106 runs in five matches at an average of 21.20, including a duck in the last match.
GT could use their fast weapon Ashok Sharma, who consistently bowls at over 150km/h and has taken six wickets in five matches.Shardul Thakur vs Glenn PhillipsGlenn Phillips can be devastating when he’s hired, but he’s struggled for consistency this season, scoring just 61 points in five games. Thakur can be used to keep him calm. The head-to-head encounters are limited – Phillips faced just two balls from Thakur without scoring – but it remains an interesting match.