IPL 2025: Why is Ashwani Kumar not playing in SRH vs MI Match 41?

Left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar will not be featuring in the IPL 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Mumbai Indians (MI), scheduled to take place on April 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

SRH currently sit at the ninth position on the points table, while MI have climbed to sixth after securing three consecutive victories.

Toss Update

MI skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He also condemned the recent terrorist attack. Pandya also stated that the team will approach the game as simply as possible. SRH skipper Pat Cummins expressed heartbreak over the Pahalgam terror attack as well and added that the team has played some good cricket this season.

Jaydev Unadkat comes in for Mohammed Shami; Vignesh Puthur in for Ashwani Kumar

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has replaced right-arm bowler Mohammed Shami, who moves to the Impact Player list for this match. For Mumbai Indians, Ashwani Kumar made way for Vignesh Puthur, strengthening the spin attack for the five-time champions.

What did the captains say?

Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians

Feels good (on the applause). I would like to firstly pass my condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack. We as a team and a franchise condemn any such attacks. We'll bowl first tonight. Looks like a good track, just one change for us - Vignesh comes in for Ashwani. We need to just execute our plans and take the game as simply as possible, plan properly.

Pat Cummins, Sunrisers Hyderabad

One change for us - Jaydev comes in, Shami goes out to the impact player list. (On playing on this surface) It is a cause for optimism, we know this surface and ground really well. We've played some really good cricket this year. (On the Pahalgam terror attack) It has been heartbreaking for us as well, our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

Playing 11s

Mumbai Indians

Ryan Rickelton(w), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Vignesh Puthur

Impact Substitutes: Rohit Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Satyanarayana Raju, Robin Minz

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga

Impact Substitutes: Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder, Mohammed Shami