In a surprising turn of events, the Mumbai Indians (MI) faced a significant setback as their captain Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the ongoing IPL 2025 match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) due to a knee injury. The injury occurred during a practice session on April 4, 2025, leaving fans and teammates anxious about the team's prospects in the match held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
With Rohit sidelined, MI handed a team debut to young all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa, a player who has been making waves since his standout performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2022. Bawa, who replaced Sharma, is known for his right-arm medium-fast bowling and left-handed batting, and his inclusion added a layer of excitement for MI fans eager to see how the 22-year-old would perform on such a big stage.
Raj Bawa first caught the cricketing world's attention during the 2022 U-19 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in India's title-winning campaign. In the final against England, Bawa delivered a phenomenal performance, taking a five-wicket haul and contributing 35 runs, which earned him the Player of the Match award. His impressive all-round capabilities have led many to draw comparisons to established stars like Hardik Pandya.
As MI began their chase of a daunting total of 204 runs set by LSG, the early loss of two wickets put added pressure on the team. Despite being a middle-order batter who can play aggressive knocks, Bawa was not sent to bat immediately. Instead, Suryakumar Yadav, who had already established himself as a key player for MI, walked out to the crease at his usual number four position. This decision raised questions about Bawa's role in the match and the strategy MI was employing.
Before the match, MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed the absence of Rohit Sharma, stating, "Rohit was hit on the knee before the game and had to sit out." The team had already been grappling with injuries, including that of Jasprit Bumrah, who was also missing from the lineup. With MI struggling at the start of the season, having lost two of their first three matches, the pressure was on to perform against LSG, who were similarly searching for form.
In the match, LSG set a competitive score of 203/8, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram leading the charge with 60 and 53 runs, respectively. MI's Hardik Pandya, however, shone with the ball, taking 5 wickets for 36 runs, marking his best-ever T20 figures and becoming the first captain in IPL history to achieve such a feat.
As MI approached the halfway mark of their innings, they had managed to score 101 runs for the loss of three wickets in 10 overs. Naman Dhir was making a notable contribution with the bat, having scored 46 runs by that point. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma were at the crease, looking to stabilize the innings and keep MI in the hunt for victory.
Raj Bawa's journey to this moment has been remarkable. Born on November 12, 2002, in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, he hails from a sporting family. His grandfather, Trilochan Singh Bawa, was part of the Indian hockey team that won gold at the 1948 London Olympics, and his father, Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, is a renowned cricket coach. Raj's passion for cricket was ignited by the inspiration he drew from Yuvraj Singh, leading him to adopt a left-handed batting style despite being a natural right-hander.
Before joining MI, Bawa made his initial IPL debut with the Punjab Kings in 2022, where he played just two matches. However, he did not get much opportunity to showcase his skills during that season. After being released by Punjab Kings, MI secured him for ₹30 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction, marking a new chapter in his career.
Bawa's statistics reflect his potential; he has played 11 First-Class matches, scoring a century, and has also excelled in List A cricket, where he has recorded two four-wicket hauls. His performance on the domestic circuit has only heightened expectations as he steps onto the IPL stage.
The decision to debut Raj Bawa signals MI's commitment to nurturing young talent and investing in the future. With a blend of pace bowling and aggressive batting, he could prove to be a crucial asset in MI's all-round department this season. As the match progresses, fans will be keenly watching to see if Bawa can replicate his under-19 success and help lead MI to a much-needed victory.
As the game unfolds, MI fans are left wondering whether Bawa will rise to the occasion and make his mark on the IPL stage. With the team in a challenging position and the pressure mounting, every run and wicket will count as they aim to turn their season around against a determined LSG side.
