India will be eager to bounce back from their loss and confirm their spot in the final when they face a struggling South African side in the women’s Tri-series, in Colombo on Wednesday (May 6, 2025).

Harmanpreet Kaur and her team saw their eight-match winning streak come to an end on Sunday (May 4) with a rare defeat to hosts Sri Lanka.

While India are still well-placed to reach the final, thanks to a superior net run rate of 0.433 built on dominant performances in their opening two games, they will look to seal it with a convincing win on May 6.

The ‘Women in Blue’ are perched on top of the points table, having earned four points from three outings. They are ahead of second placed Sri Lanka, who also have four points but an inferior NRR of -0.166, while winless South Africa are last although the Proteas women have played a game less.

India’s batting has been a major positive in the series. Opener Pratika Rawal has led the charge with 163 runs, including two half-centuries, and currently tops the run-scorers’ chart. Other batters have also contributed to the cause.

Sneh Rana has been the standout bowler not only for India but also in the series. She has snared 11 wickets in three games, bowling at an economy of 4.25, which is second best behind South Africa pace all-rounder Nadine de Klerk (4.06).

Rana’s maiden five-wicket haul against South Africa was her highlight performance, and she will look to replicate that display.

The bowlers fashioned the wins for India in the first two matches, but their performance dipped in the loss against Sri Lanka. To make matters worse, seam-bowling all-rounder Kashvee Gautam hobbled off the field after bowling just five overs on May 4.

“Bowling is one area where we need to improve. There were chances today, but we couldn’t capitalise on them,” skipper Kaur admitted after the loss.

In stark contrast, South Africa have struggled for form, losing eight of their last nine ODIs, including both games in this series.

They put up a strong fight against India in the opener but faltered in the final overs. In their next outing, they were thoroughly outplayed by hosts Sri Lanka.

Both their batting and bowling departments have underperformed. The batters have struggled to rotate the strike, while the bowlers have lacked discipline in line and length, making it difficult to apply pressure or pick up wickets.

Compounding their woes is the struggle to cope with Sri Lanka’s extreme heat.

Set batter Tazmin Brits suffered cramps during the game against India and had to retire hurt after receiving medical attention, which served as a turning point to shift the momentum in India’s favour.

In their next match, wicketkeeper-batter Karabo Meso was forced to leave the field due to a “heat-related illness”, further highlighting the team’s difficulties in adapting to the tough playing conditions.

“We always knew that it was going to be tough coming here. The heat was on today, and you could see the girls suffering. But that’s no excuse,” head coach Mandla Mashimbyi had said.

Squads:

India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Nallapureddy Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Amanjot Kaur, Tejal Hasabnis, Shuchi Upadhyay.

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Lara Goodall, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta(w), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka, Karabo Meso, Miane Smit, Nondumiso Shangase, Seshnie Naidu

The match starts at 10 a.m. IST.

Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are set for a high-stakes IPL 2025 clash on Tuesday, with both teams eyeing playoff spots. Third-placed MI, riding a six-match winning streak and boasting the tournament’s best Net Run Rate, need two wins from three remaining games to secure qualification. GT, in fourth place, also require two victories from their final four fixtures.
The Titans’ top order — B Sai Sudharsan (504 runs), Jos Buttler (470), and Shubman Gill (465) — has been key to their success. However, they’ll be tested against MI’s formidable bowling attack led by Trent Boult (16 wickets), Jasprit Bumrah (11), and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (13 wickets, 157 runs). MI’s bowlers have not conceded over 200 runs in their last six games.
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While GT thrive batting first, they’ve also won all three of their chases convincingly. However, the lack of middle-order contributions, apart from Sherfane Rutherford (201), may be a concern.
Who’s that IPL player?
For MI, batters like Suryakumar Yadav (475), Ryan Rickelton (334), and Rohit Sharma (293) are peaking at the right time. GT’s bowlers, led by Prasidh Krishna (19 wickets), will need to deliver again, especially with Kagiso Rabada’s status still uncertain after a provisional suspension.
Pitch report for MI vs GT
The center of the square is with 63-meter boundaries on either side and 73 meters straight down the ground. There’s a good grass covering on the surface, but underneath, it’s quite dry with a slight bristle, suggesting the ball might grip and hold a touch early on. Retaining moisture has clearly been a challenge for the groundstaff. As the game progresses, the surface may slow down a bit, aiding spinners and slower bowlers. That said, chasing could be the better option, with conditions possibly improving under lights — though it’s a brave call in these humid conditions.
MI vs GT Playing XI Prediction
Mumbai Indians predicted XI: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Impact Player – Karn Sharma
Gujarat Titans predicted XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Player – Ishant Sharma

MI vs GT squads, IPL match Today
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Shrijith Krishnan (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, VS Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Anuj Rawat (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Nishant Sidhu, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Arshad Khan, R Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, B Sai Sudharsan, Dasun Shanaka, Shahrukh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gerald Coetzee, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan.
MI vs GT Head-to-Head Record
Played: 6
MI wins: 2
GT wins: 4
MI vs GT IPL 2025, Mumbai weather prediction
Expect a mainly cloudy day in Mumbai with a couple of showers possible during the afternoon. However, the threat of rain diminishes as the evening approaches, with precipitation chances dropping sharply from 48% at 6 PM to just 2% by the 7 PM toss. During the match, skies will remain mostly overcast, and the temperature will hover around 30°C. Due to high humidity levels exceeding 80%, it will feel more like 35°C, making for warm and sticky playing conditions under the lights.

The sun set on Sunrisers’ campaign on a day they dominated Capitals.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

Seven losses in 10 games, veterans exposed and the inexperienced faltering. Despite a slim mathematical chance to make the playoffs, it was all over for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025.

With everything to play for, SRH strung together a commendable performance with the ball.

The host restricted Delhi Capitals to 133 for seven before rain washed out the fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday.

The Cummins show

After choosing to bowl on a red-soil surface devoid of grass, skipper Pat Cummins made the ball dance to his tunes from the get-go, removing the top-order in his three overs within the PowerPlay.

Karun Nair’s rut continued, sent back off the very first ball of the innings. Faf du Plessis and Abishek Porel tried to negotiate Cummins and Jaydev Unadkat’s Test match lengths, but in vain. SRH called on its experienced soldiers up front, with Harshal Patel tricking DC captain Axar Patel with a slower ball to leave the visitor reeling at 26 for four.

Ishan Kishan’s safe gloves featured in three of these four dismissals.

Looking to put the squeeze on the Capitals, the Australian turned to Unadkat again in the eighth and the 33-year-old delivered instantly, drawing an edge from K.L. Rahul which Kishan pocketed without fuss.

DC’s first six came in the 10th over, with Vipraj Nigam giving the handful of blue shirts among the 35,000-plus crowd something to cheer about.

That said, the inconsistent SRH one has grown accustomed to resurfaced, allowing Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma to settle. The duo’s 66-run stand off 45 balls revived the innings to a respectable but well below-par mark before rain arrived, leaving an unsalvageable outfield when it eventually left.

Much like how the late evening shower gave the locals a much-needed break from the sweltering heat, SRH put up its most impressive bowling performance yet to press pause on the disappointments of its run this season.

The summer will make its presence felt come the next day, as will the reality of SRH’s failures. But this performance should be one to remember, even if it ultimately went unrewarded.

SCOREBOARD

DELHI CAPITALS

Karun Nair c Kishan b Cummins 0 (1b), Faf du Plessis c Kishan b Cummins 3 (8b), Abishek Porel c Kishan b Cummins 8 (10b, 1×4), K.L. Rahul c Kishan b Unadkat 10 (14b, 1×4), Axar Patel c Cummins b Harshal 6 (7b, 1×4), Tristan Stubbs (not out) 41 (36b, 4×4), Vipraj Nigam run out 18 (17b, 1×4, 1×6), Ashutosh Sharma (Impact Player for Porel) c Abhinav b Malinga 41 (26b, 2×4, 3×6), Mitchell Starc (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-2, w-3): 5; Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 133.

FALL OF WICKETS

1-0 (Karun, 0.1 overs), 2-6 (du Plessis, 2.1), 3-15 (Porel, 4.1), 4-26 (Axar, 5.5), 5-29 (Rahul, 7.1), 6-62 (Vipraj, 12.1), 7-128 (Ashutosh, 19.4).

SUNRISERS BOWLING

Cummins 4-0-19-3, Unadkat 4-0-13-1, Harshal 4-0-36-1, Malinga 4-0-28-1, Zeeshan 3-0-30-0, Abhishek 1-0-5-0.

Toss: SRH.