The Wankhede Stadium witnessed a sea of white on May 21 as Mumbai Indians (MI) fans donned white jerseys to honor Rohit Sharma's illustrious Test cricket career during the IPL 2025 clash between MI and Delhi Capitals (DC). This heartfelt gesture was part of the fan campaign, which gained momentum on social media following Sharma's recent retirement from Test cricket.
Rohit Sharma, who made his Test debut in 2013, concluded his red-ball career with 67 matches and over 4000 runs. His transformation into a reliable opener from 2019 onwards solidified his place in India's Test lineup. While he continues to play in ODIs, his departure from Tests has left a void for many fans.
In addition to wearing white, fans had the opportunity to purchase special edition jerseys emblazoned with "Mumbai cha Raja Rohit" (King of Mumbai Rohit) and masks featuring Sharma's likeness outside the stadium. The phrase "Mumbai cha Raja" has become synonymous with Sharma, reflecting his deep connection with the city and its cricketing heritage.
Mumbai Indians are taking on Delhi Capitals in a thrilling IPL 2025 Match
As the league stage of this year’s tournament nears its conclusion, the upcoming clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Wankhede Stadium on May 21 promises to be a virtual knockout. Mumbai Indians, five-time champions, are within touching distance of sealing a playoff berth. With major playoff implications riding on the result teams remain in contention for the final playoff spots, and a win in this critical fixture could go a long way in shaping the top four.
Playoff Qualification scenario
A win against Delhi would take them to 16 points enough to confirm their qualification regardless of the outcome of their final league match against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
The advantage for MI also lies in the current net run rate (NRR) equation. With Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) trailing in terms of NRR, a victory would almost certainly secure MI a place in the top four, eliminating the need for any complex permutations heading into the final round of fixtures.
For Delhi Capitals a win over Mumbai would take them to 15 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Crucially, it would also leave MI stranded on 14 points, setting up a tense finale in the final round.
Should DC follow up with a win over PBKS in their last league match on May 24 in Jaipur, they would climb to 17 points—more than enough to book a playoff spot and knock MI out of the race.
