The IPL 2025 season is gaining steam, and the battle between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 9 promises to be a high-pressure clash. Both sides are teeming with match-winners, and one-on-one duels between ace players can determine the result of this exciting contest. Let's take a glance at the five critical battles to watch out for in this match. Top 5 Key Player Battles to Watch in GT vs MI Sno Players 1 Jos Buttler vs Hardik Pandya 2 Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada 3 Suryakumar Yadav vs Kagiso Rabada 4 Shubman Gill vs Deepak Chahar 5 Hardik Pandya vs Rashid Khan Jos Buttler vs Hardik Pandya Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 33 15 0 4 3 2 220.0 - 2022 14 11 1 3 1 0 127.3 14.0 2023 8 3 1 1 2 0 266.7 8.0 2024 10 4 0 1 2 0 250.0 - Total 65 33 2 9 8 2 197.0 32.5 Jos Buttler is famous for his explosive batting in T20 cricket. He can dominate any bowler and turn the game around in a matter of a few overs. His capability to dominate pace and spin alike makes him an important player for Gujarat Titans. But he will face Hardik Pandya, who has a tendency to break partnerships with his smart variations and well-placed short balls. Pandya will try and silence Buttler early on and get him playing a false shot. If Buttler gets set, it would be difficult to stop him from scoring, but Pandya would try and get him out as early as possible and swing the game in the favor of Mumbai. Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2017 0 1 1 1 0 0 0.0 0.0 2019 6 4 0 1 1 0 150.0 - 2020 10 8 0 4 2 0 125.0 - 2021 7 3 0 1 0 1 233.3 - 2022 14 9 1 6 2 1 155.6 14.0 2024 1 2 0 1 0 0 50.0 - Total 38 27 2 14 5 2 140.7 19.0 Rohit Sharma is among the best IPL batters, and his long innings play makes him a key player for MI. He has the temperament and experience to handle world-class bowlers. Kagiso Rabada has, however, given him trouble in the past with his raw pace and bounce. Rabada’s ability to generate movement with the new ball can be a major threat to Rohit, especially in the powerplay. If Rohit manages to survive the initial burst, he can score big, but Rabada will be determined to send him back early and put pressure on MI’s batting lineup. Suryakumar Yadav vs Kagiso Rabada Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2019 8 7 1 2 1 0 114.3 8.0 2020 19 17 1 8 1 1 111.8 19.0 2021 15 8 0 3 1 1 187.5 - 2022 13 7 1 3 1 1 185.7 13.0 2024 32 16 0 4 3 2 200.0 - Total 87 55 3 20 7 5 158.2 29.0 Suryakumar Yadav, or SKY, is a 360-degree batsman who can hit boundaries anywhere in the park. His versatility to play innovative shots makes him arguably the most feared batsman in T20 cricket. But Rabada's speed and precision have troubled him before. If Rabada can bowl tight lines and not provide SKY any room, he can keep him at bay. But if Suryakumar gets going, he can take the game to the bowler and place MI in a commanding position. This contest between Rabada's raw speed and Suryakumar's attacking stroke play will be a treat to watch. Shubman Gill vs Deepak Chahar Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2019 2 4 0 2 0 0 50.0 - 2020 22 11 0 1 4 0 200.0 - 2021 21 18 2 9 4 0 116.7 10.5 2023 26 19 1 6 2 1 136.8 26.0 2024 7 3 1 1 0 1 233.3 7.0 Total 78 55 4 19 10 2 141.8 19.5 Shubman Gill is one of the most graceful batsmen in the IPL. His capability of creating gaps and timing the ball exquisitely makes him GT's go-to man. He has, though, usually struggled against good swing bowlers in the early part of his innings. Deepak Chahar, who can swing both ways, will try to take advantage of Gill's weakness in the powerplay. If Chahar is able to get some movement, he might be able to trouble Gill and push GT on the back foot. Alternatively, if Gill is able to get set, he can take the attack to the bowlers and provide a strong platform for GT's innings. Hardik Pandya vs Rashid Khan Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2017 4 9 1 6 0 0 44.4 4.0 2018 1 10 0 9 0 0 10.0 - 2019 11 9 1 4 0 1 122.2 11.0 2020 2 5 0 3 0 0 40.0 - 2021 9 4 0 0 0 1 225.0 - Total 27 37 2 22 0 2 73.0 13.5 Hardik Pandya is a power-hitter, and he enjoys confronting bowlers in the middle and death overs. But he will be confronted with a huge challenge in Rashid Khan, arguably the finest spinner of T20 cricket. Rashid's fast leg-spin and unplayable googlies have haunted a number of top-order batsmen over the years. If Pandya gets aggressive against him too soon, Rashid may catch him out with his variations. Pandya's task will be to keep Rashid at bay cautiously while being aggressive against other bowlers. This fight might be decisive in determining the change of momentum in the match. Conclusion The GT vs MI match is going to be a real contest, with a number of thrilling individual battles. Players such as Buttler, Rohit, and Suryakumar will try to take charge with the bat, while bowlers such as Pandya, Rabada, and Rashid will try to make a difference with the ball. These are the battles that are going to shape the way the winning team emerges. The fans can look forward to a high-intensity game packed with quality cricket as these two dynastic teams collide.