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Mumbai Indians faced a player shuffle in the IPL 2025 as Raghu Sharma steps in to replace the injured Vignesh Puthur for the remainder of the season. This decision was made following Puthur’s stress reactions in his shins, which will require him to focus on recovery and rehabilitation under the supervision of the Mumbai Indians medical and strength & conditioning team.

Vignesh Puthur had demonstrated promising performances in the tournament, claiming six wickets in just five matches. He notably took a three-wicket haul on his debut against the Chennai Super Kings. Unfortunately, his contribution is cut short due to the injury.

Raghu Sharma, who was initially picked as a net bowler for Mumbai Indians, was brought into the squad at a base price of INR 30 lakh. Sharma has a notable domestic cricket background, having played for Punjab and Pondicherry. His career statistics include participation in 11 First-Class matches, nine List A matches, and three T20 matches. Sharma’s First-Class career is marked by five five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls. Notably, he picked up 14 wickets in eight games in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, showcasing his potential and skill.

Mumbai Indians have had a mixed journey in this year’s IPL. The team struggled initially, winning only one of their first five matches. However, they managed to turn their form around by winning the next five matches. This improved performance places them third on the 10-team points table, with a record of six wins and four losses. Their resurgence is credited to key performances by skipper Hardik Pandya, as well as notable contributions from Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, with bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult offering strategic advantages.

With four more matches remaining in the league stage, Mumbai Indians aim to secure at least two more wins to enhance their chances of reaching the playoffs. The leadership of Hardik Pandya, combined with the form of key players and strategic additions like Raghu Sharma, will play a significant role in keeping their playoff hopes alive.

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