Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians - Match Preview and Fantasy Tips

Match Overview

The Punjab Kings take on Mumbai Indians in the 69th match of IPL 2025 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. This game is critical, as the winner is expected to climb to the top of the points table, making it a defining moment in the tournament. Both teams are set to bring their A-game, with top performances expected from key players.

Head-to-Head Record

Total Matches Played: 32

Punjab Kings Wins: 15

Mumbai Indians Wins: 17

Recent Encounter: In their last meeting in the previous season, Mumbai Indians won by 9 runs in a high-scoring thriller, with standout performances from Suryakumar Yadav (78 runs), Rohit Sharma (36 runs), and Tilak Varma (30+ runs). Punjab Kings’ Shashank Singh and Harpreet Brar also made notable contributions.

This is the first clash between the two teams in IPL 2025, making it a highly anticipated battle.

Pitch Report: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Pitch Characteristics: The pitch at Jaipur is batting-friendly but offers good assistance to fast bowlers. The average first-innings score ranges between 150-165. However, recent matches have seen high-scoring games, with totals exceeding 200 runs.

Highest Score: 219/5 by Punjab Kings.

Lowest Score: 59 all out by Rajasthan Royals.

Match Trends: Out of 64 matches played at this venue, teams chasing have won 40 times, indicating a slight advantage for the team batting second.

Recent Matches:

Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals: Delhi won a high-scoring game with both teams scoring over 200. Spinners took 7 wickets, pacers 5.

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Punjab won by 10 runs, with both teams scoring 200+. Pacers took 8 wickets, spinners 7.

Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals: Mumbai won a 200+ run game, with pacers claiming 7 wickets and spinners 5.

Fantasy Tip: Prioritize batting all-rounders and pacers, as they are likely to fetch more fantasy points due to the pitch’s balanced nature.

Key Players to Watch

Punjab Kings

Prabh Simran Singh: A consistent performer with three half-centuries in his last five matches. Against MI, he has scored 35 runs in 3 matches, but his venue stats are strong (139 runs in 5 matches, average 35). A safe captaincy pick for grand leagues.

Shreyas Iyer (C): The captain is in fine form, with two half-centuries in his last five games. He averages 29 at Jaipur (87 runs in 3 matches) and 26 against MI. Expect 40-50 runs, making him a top captaincy choice.

Shashank Singh: A potential game-changer for grand leagues. He has a strong record at Jaipur (160 runs in 5 matches, average 40) and 41 runs against MI in one game. A low-selection percentage makes him a differential pick.

Marcus Stoinis: Back in form with a quickfire knock in the last game. He has 340 runs and 13 wickets against MI in 14 matches, plus 110 runs and 3 wickets at Jaipur. A must-have all-rounder.

Arshdeep Singh: A key pacer with 8 wickets in 7 matches against MI. Despite no wickets in his last two games, he’s likely to pick up 1-2 wickets here.

Yuzvendra Chahal: A safe pick for small leagues, with 21 wickets in 16 matches at Jaipur. Expect 1-2 wickets.

Marco Jansen: A confirmed pick with consistent wickets (4 wickets in 3 matches at Jaipur). Likely to take 1-2 wickets.

Players to Avoid:

Priyansh Arya: Likely to score 20-30 runs but may flop. Drop him in one grand league team for risk.

Jos Buttler: High expectations but likely to underperform. Drop in grand leagues for a differential strategy.

Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma: A key batter expected to score 30-35 runs. Despite a lean patch (two flops in last five), he has 179 runs in 6 matches against PBKS (average 30). A safe small-league pick.

Suryakumar Yadav: The most consistent batter, with 277 runs in 8 matches against PBKS (average 46) and 55 average at Jaipur. A must-have and top captaincy pick.

Will Jacks: A safe all-rounder with consistent fantasy points. Scored 21 runs and took wickets in his last game. A confirmed pick for small leagues.

Hardik Pandya (C): Expected to deliver with bat and ball in this crucial match. Has 87 runs and 2 wickets in 6 matches against PBKS. A captaincy option for grand leagues.

Jasprit Bumrah: In top form, with 6 wickets in 4 matches against PBKS and 5 wickets in 4 matches at Jaipur. Expect 1-2 wickets.

Trent Boult: Likely to take 1-2 wickets, with 9 wickets in 9 matches at Jaipur. A strong pick for both small and grand leagues.

Mitchell Starc: A game-changer with 1-2 wickets expected. Took 1-2 wickets in his last game and has 1 wicket in 2 matches against PBKS.

Players to Avoid:

Shayan Rickelton: Likely to flop in the second innings if MI chases. Drop in grand leagues.

Deepak Chahar: Unlikely to take more than one wicket. Avoid in grand leagues.

Fantasy Cricket Tips

Safe Captaincy/Vice-Captaincy Picks:

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)

Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)

Alternatives: Will Jacks, Hardik Pandya

Game-Changers for Grand Leagues:

Shashank Singh (PBKS)

Tilak Varma (MI)

Low-Selection Differentials: Players like Shashank Singh and Tilak Varma (selection percentage below 20%) can be trump cards in grand leagues.

Team Composition:

Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler, Shayan Rickelton

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer

All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks

Bowlers: Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

Grand League Strategy: Swap Will Jacks or Trent Boult with Marco Jansen or Yuzvendra Chahal for differential picks. Drop Shayan Rickelton for Jansen in one team for a high-risk, high-reward combination.

Match Prediction

Based on recent form and experience in high-pressure games, Mumbai Indians are slight favorites to win this match. They have won four of their last five games, while Punjab Kings have secured three victories in their last five. However, cricket is unpredictable, and Punjab’s strong batting lineup could turn the tide. The team batting second may have an edge due to the chasing trend at Jaipur.

Conclusion

The Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians clash promises to be a thrilling encounter with both teams vying for the top spot. Focus on consistent performers like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Jasprit Bumrah for small leagues, while Shashank Singh and Tilak Varma could be game-changers in grand leagues. Stay updated with the final team lineups and toss details for last-minute adjustments to your fantasy team.

What’s your prediction for the match winner? Share your thoughts in the comments below!