Shikhar Dhawan Backs Mumbai Indians for IPL 2025 Championship
Dhawan's Championship Prediction
As the IPL 2025 season approaches its finale, seasoned batter Shikhar Dhawan has shared his thoughts on which team he believes will emerge victorious ahead of the Qualifier Two match. With the Mumbai Indians set to clash with Punjab Kings on Sunday, Dhawan feels that the five-time champions are in a strong position.
“This season has been incredibly thrilling. For the finals, my support goes to Mumbai Indians. They are performing exceptionally well and have a well-rounded team. Their momentum is impressive, making them a formidable contender. Therefore, I am backing Mumbai Indians,” Dhawan expressed.
It's worth noting that Dhawan was part of the Mumbai Indians roster in 2009 and 2010 before transitioning to Deccan Chargers and subsequently Sunrisers Hyderabad. He returned to Delhi Capitals in 2019 and played there until 2021, before joining Punjab Kings for the last two seasons of his IPL career.
Mumbai secured their place in Qualifier Two after defeating Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator and will face Punjab Kings on Sunday. Under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, MI has made a remarkable recovery in the latter half of the tournament following a rocky start.
Dhawan Praises Shubman Gill's New Role
In addition, Dhawan shared his views on Shubman Gill's recent appointment as India's Test captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement from the longest format.
“I believe this is an excellent decision. Shubman has shown impressive performance in the IPL lately. He is a remarkable talent who has matured over the years while playing for the Indian team. I think he is the ideal choice for the Test captaincy, and I am confident he will lead the team effectively. This is the new generation, Gen Z, and I trust he will excel in this role. I wish him all the best,” Dhawan remarked.
Gill's captaincy will commence with a challenging away series in England starting June 20. India will be missing key players such as Virat Kohli and R Ashwin for the five-Test series, presenting a tough first challenge for the young captain.