Date: May 30, 2025

In a crucial IPL 2025 Eliminator match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT) held in Mohali, fans were left puzzled as seasoned pacer Deepak Chahar was nowhere to be seen in Mumbai’s starting lineup.

The contest, taking place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, carries massive playoff implications — the winner advances, while the loser exits the tournament.

Why Did Deepak Chahar Not Play?

According to internal team sources, fitness management and minor niggles were the reasons behind Deepak Chahar’s absence. While not officially ruled out for the season, the Mumbai Indians’ think tank decided to give him a break, prioritizing his long-term availability.

In his place, Richard Gleeson, an English fast bowler with previous IPL and international experience, was included in the playing XI. Gleeson’s familiarity with subcontinent conditions — from his time with Chennai Super Kings — played a role in his selection for this pressure-filled match.

More Changes for Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai franchise also had to deal with the unavailability of Ryan Rickelton, the South African wicketkeeper-batter. Rickelton has returned to his national team for preparations ahead of the World Test Championship Final.

In response, Jonny Bairstow, a hard-hitting English batter with plenty of IPL exposure, was drafted into the squad. Bairstow has previously played for teams like Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad and is known for his aggressive top-order play.

Gujarat Titans Shuffle Their Lineup Too

GT also made two important alterations.

• Jos Buttler, unavailable due to international duty with England, was replaced by Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan batter.

• Arshad Khan was left out, with Washington Sundar returning to strengthen the spin department on a dry Mohali pitch.

These changes were tailored for the surface, which was visibly different from the pitch used for the previous match, offering less bounce and more turn.

Eliminator Stakes: Do or Die

The Eliminator clash determines who progresses to face Punjab Kings in the second qualifier. A win keeps the IPL title dream alive, while defeat marks the end of the road.

Both MI and GT have geared up with strong lineups, making this contest a high-voltage affair.

Playing XIs and Substitutes

Mumbai Indians XI:
Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson

Impact Players: Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Raghu Sharma, Ashwani Kumar, Robin Minz

Gujarat Titans XI:
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Impact Players: Sherfane Rutherford, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Jayant Yadav, Arshad Khan

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