As IPL 2025 approaches the playoffs, match 50 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) is likely to be an exciting match. Both teams have strong players, and at times, the outcome is not only based on team performance, but also on how well individual players play against one another. Let's examine four major player confrontations that can decide this game and how they have fared against one another in the past. Top 4 Key Player Battles to Watch in RR vs MI Sno Players 1 Rohit Sharma vs Jofra Archer 2 Suryakumar Yadav vs Wanindu Hasaranga 3 Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Jasprit Bumrah 4 Sandeep Sharma vs Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma vs Jofra Archer Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 0 1 1 1 0 0 0.0 0.0 2019 2 3 1 1 0 0 66.7 2.0 2020 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - Total 3 5 2 2 0 0 60.0 1.5 Rohit Sharma is one of the most seasoned batsmen in IPL history, but Jofra Archer has dominated their encounters. The statistics are astonishing. In all his previous encounters, Rohit has managed to score a mere 3 runs off 5 balls only against Archer. More concerning for Mumbai is the fact that Archer has got Rohit out twice in those five balls. Rohit has not even scored a single four or six against Archer. His strike rate in this encounter is as low as 60, which is extremely low for a batter who opens the innings. This indicates Archer has distinctly harassed Rohit with his speed and bounce. If things go on like this, it may cost MI dearly at the beginning of the innings. Also Read | Who is Raghu Sharma? Meet MI’s New Signing for IPL 2025 Suryakumar Yadav vs Wanindu Hasaranga Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2022 10 7 0 2 0 1 142.9 - 2023 25 9 0 0 0 3 277.8 - Total 35 16 0 2 0 4 218.8 - It is a battle of pace batter vs astute spinner. Suryakumar Yadav is famous for hitting 360-degree shots and harassing bowlers. What's interesting about this fight, though, is the fact that Surya has thoroughly dominated Hasaranga in their face-offs till now. Surya has hit 35 runs off 16 balls without getting dismissed even once. He has scored four massive sixes but not a single four, which speaks volumes about the confidence with which he has carried the attack against the spinner. His strike rate against Hasaranga is a massive 218.8 that means he is scoring more than two runs per ball. If Hasaranga doesn’t find a way to stop Surya, this matchup could once again go MI’s way. Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Jasprit Bumrah Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2021 1 4 0 3 0 0 25.0 - 2022 0 1 1 1 0 0 0.0 0.0 2024 18 11 0 4 2 1 163.6 - Total 19 16 1 8 2 1 118.8 19.0 Teenage opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been RR's most thrilling performer over the past couple of seasons, but pitted against Jasprit Bumrah, nobody has ever found it easy and Jaiswal is no exception. Across all their previous encounters, Jaiswal has mustered only 19 runs from 16 balls and been dismissed once. He had a miserable time in 2021 and 2022, making just 1 and 0 runs in both matches. But in their recent encounter in 2024, Jaiswal was much improved, making 18 runs off 11 balls, with 2 fours and a six. Nevertheless, his overall strike rate is only 118.8, and Bumrah has kept him in check for extended periods. RR will hope Jaiswal keeps improving, but Bumrah is still a big threat. Also Read | Explained: Why Vaibhav Suryavanshi Can't Play T20 WC 2026 Sandeep Sharma vs Rohit Sharma Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2013 5 4 0 2 1 0 125.0 - 2014 6 3 0 1 1 0 200.0 - 2015 0 2 1 2 0 0 0.0 0.0 2016 7 10 1 6 1 0 70.0 7.0 2018 3 9 0 7 0 0 33.3 - 2019 8 5 0 2 0 1 160.0 - 2020 8 9 2 6 0 1 88.9 4.0 2023 1 2 1 1 0 0 50.0 1.0 Total 38 44 5 27 3 2 86.4 7.6 This is one of the longest-standing personal duels in IPL. Rohit Sharma has played against Sandeep Sharma numerous times in the past, and the stats are strongly in favour of the bowler. Overall, Rohit has made 38 runs from 44 deliveries against Sandeep not much and has lost his wicket five times. That means whenever Rohit plays around nine deliveries of Sandeep, he gets out. Sandeep has bowled 27 dot balls to Rohit, it's extremely difficult for him to play freely in these situations. His strike rate against Sandeep is mere 86.4, well short of his high standard. It indicates just how well Sandeep has controlled and dispatched Rohit, particularly in the first few overs. These battles between players are not statistics alone they are a narrative of pressure, dominance, and previous success. How each of these battles on match day turns out will be a huge determining factor in who takes this thrilling encounter between RR and MI.