The Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2025 match is going to be an enthralling match. Both sides possess world-class players, and battles between the star players can play a major role in deciding the result. Here are five intriguing head-to-head battles that may determine the outcome of this high-voltage match. Top 5 Key Player Battles to Watch in MI vs KKR Sno Players 1 Trent Boult vs Quinton de Kock 2 Deepak Chahar vs Ajinkya Rahane 3 Rohit Sharma vs Sunil Narine 4 Hardik Pandya vs Varun Chakravarthy 5 Tilak Varma vs Harshit Rana Trent Boult vs Quinton de Kock Trent Boult has been the most threatening new-ball bowler in T20 cricket. His capacity to swing the ball both ways and take early wickets makes him a vital cog for MI. Quinton de Kock, on the other hand, is a bold opener who loves to attack the bowlers from the beginning. Their contest in the powerplay will be important, with Boult trying to rattle QDK with movement and pace and the batter trying to counter him with forceful stroke play. In the past, Boult has bowled out QDK on a couple of occasions, but the left-handed batter has also been able to overpower him on some occasions. If QDK is able to survive Boult's initial spell, he might provide KKR with a good start. Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 8 8 0 3 1 0 100.0 - 2019 17 6 0 0 2 1 283.3 - 2022 4 6 1 4 0 0 66.7 4.0 2024 12 8 2 5 3 0 150.0 6.0 Total 41 28 3 12 6 1 146.4 13.7 Also Read | MI vs KKR IPL 2025 Match 12: Key Stats & Milestones to Watch Deepak Chahar vs Ajinkya Rahane Deepak Chahar's skill at swinging the ball makes him a dangerous bowler to face in the powerplay. He has baffled batters with his accuracy and movement, and Ajinkya Rahane has had mixed success against him previously. Rahane is a traditional batter who plays on timing and placement, but he has found himself struggling at times when confronted with quality swing bowling. In past encounters, Chahar has sent Rahane back to the pavilion several times, normally getting him behind or stumping him in front of the wickets. Rahane is a seasoned player, though, and he can contain Chahar by playing late and by looking to rotate the strike. If he manages to see off Chahar's initial spell, he might be able to play an anchor role for KKR. Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2018 14 9 1 4 1 1 155.6 14.0 2019 5 7 2 5 1 0 71.4 2.5 2020 2 7 1 5 0 0 28.6 2.0 Total 21 23 4 14 2 1 91.3 5.2 Rohit Sharma vs Sunil Narine Rohit Sharma is among the most successful IPL batsman, but Sunil Narine has proved to be a difficult customer for him. Narine's variations and precision make him a bowling nightmare to score runs against. Rohit has been dismissed on numerous occasions by Narine, especially when attempting to take his chances against the off-spinner. But Rohit is also renowned for his counterattacking capabilities, and if he gets rolling, he can steal the game from KKR. Narine has kept a check on Rohit's strike rate over the years and sent him packing many times, which makes this showdown one of the most crucial in the game. If Narine can get rid of Rohit early, then MI might be in trouble. But if Rohit is able to read Narine's variations convincingly, he might place KKR in tremendous pressure. Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2012 8 8 1 3 1 0 100.0 8.0 2013 13 13 1 4 1 0 100.0 13.0 2014 7 10 1 4 0 0 70.0 7.0 2015 34 23 1 9 5 1 147.8 34.0 2016 14 13 0 5 2 0 107.7 - 2017 11 16 1 9 1 0 68.8 11.0 2018 14 12 1 5 0 1 116.7 14.0 2019 21 15 0 6 4 0 140.0 - 2020 7 9 0 2 0 0 77.8 - 2021 8 8 1 3 1 0 100.0 8.0 2023 4 1 0 0 1 0 400.0 - 2024 2 6 1 4 0 0 33.3 2.0 Total 143 134 8 54 16 2 106.7 17.9 Also Read | Who Is the Cute CSK Fan Girl Reacting to Dhoni’s Wicket? Hardik Pandya vs Varun Chakravarthy Hardik Pandya is one of the most aggressive hitters of the IPL, able to turn matches around in the space of just a few overs. But when it comes to mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, he has struggled to hit his rhythm several times. Varun’s unique bowling action and ability to mix up deliveries make him a tricky bowler to face. Hardik has had a few good moments against Varun in previous matches, but the spinner has also managed to keep him quiet on several occasions. If Varun can control Hardik and not allow him to hit boundaries, it will help KKR slow down MI’s scoring rate in the death overs. But if Hardik can find a way to counterattack him, it could make for a massive finish for MI. Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2020 1 2 0 1 0 0 50.0 - 2021 3 6 0 3 0 0 50.0 - 2022 17 11 0 3 1 1 154.5 - 2023 0 3 0 3 0 0 0.0 - 2024 1 3 1 2 0 0 33.3 1.0 Total 22 25 1 12 1 1 88.0 22.0 Tilak Varma vs Harshit Rana Tilak Varma has been one of the most promising young MI batters with excellent temperament when under pressure. His capability of playing pace and spin with the same ease makes him a player of great importance in the middle order. But against a hot pacer like Harshit Rana, he will need to be cautious. Harshit is a bowler who enjoys bowling short-pitched balls and challenging batters with pace. Tilak has played Harshit in a few games, but in their previous match, the pacer was able to get rid of him early. This makes their next encounter all the more thrilling. If Tilak can handle Harshit’s aggressive approach, he could play a match-winning knock for MI. But if Harshit manages to get his wicket early, it will give KKR a big advantage. Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2024 15 6 1 2 2 1 250.0 15.0 Total 15 6 1 2 2 1 250.0 15.0