Kl Rahul, who recently lifted the Champions Trophy with India, will face his former side as Capitals open its campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24
Our Bureau
Mumbai/New Delhi
Mumbai Indians (MI) has dropped the first leg of its all-new season campaign, #PlayLikeMumbai–a tribute to the city’s resilience, fearless attitude, and street-smart cricket culture that define both Mumbai and its iconic team Mumbai Indians (MI), as per the Reliance Foundation press release.
Inspired by Mumbai’s gully culture and street-smart spirit, #PlayLikeMumbai showcases Mumbai Indians’ core squad–from Bhai (Hardik Pandya) and Bhidu (Rohit Sharma) of the gullies to Dada (Suryakumar Yadav), Boss (Jasprit Bumrah), and Bantai (Tilak Varma)–who embody the city’s hustle and hunger to win.
Just like Mumbai, MI plays with flair, grit, and the ability to bounce back from any challenge – Because game ho ya life, we #PlayLikeMumbai, as per the Reliance Foundation press release.
Jackie Shroff joined as MI’s ‘Spirit Coach’ – Bhidu, Yeh Toh Ekdum Alag Level Ka Move Hai! In a first-of-its-kind move, Bollywood’s OG Bhidu, Jackie Shroff, steps into the role of ‘Spirit Coach’ for the Mumbai Indians. Bringing his legendary Bambaiya swag and iconic dialogues, Jackie will fire up the MI Paltan, channeling the true essence of #PlayLikeMumbai throughout the season.
Rap Anthem with Pure Bambaiya Swag – koi shakk?- The campaign comes to life with a hard-hitting rap anthem featuring Mumbai’s very own voices–Srushti Tawade, Sambata, and Kaam Bhari. This high-energy track captures the raw pulse of the gullies, merging street cricket’s spirit with the MI universe–because in Mumbai, cricket is not played; it’s lived.
From Jackie’s heavy-hitting dialogues to street-cricket stories and behind-the-scenes masti, #PlayLikeMumbai is more than just a campaign–it’s a movement, bringing Mumbai’s raw, fearless energy straight to the Paltan. Game ho ya life, we #PlayLikeMumbai!
The five-time IPL champions retained their ‘Fab Four’ by shelling out a hefty amount. Along with Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav, Bumrah was among the five players retained by the Mumbai-based franchise ahead of IPL 2025.
MI finished at the bottom in the last season, where they could only manage four wins and 10 losses under the captaincy of a returning star, Hardik Pandya.
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul revealed the emotions he felt when his name came up in last year’s mega auction and his opinion on the franchise’s team combination ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
After spending three seasons as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper, Rahul parted ways with the franchise and enrolled his name for the mega auction.
Following a fierce bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC) entered the action and got an opener, captain and wicketkeeper-batter option in Rahul for a hefty sum of Rs 14 crore.
“The auction was a nerve-wracking experience. As a player, not knowing which team you will end up with is never easy. Over the years, I’ve seen how unpredictable auctions can be–there’s no fixed pattern to how things unfold. Having been a captain for the last three seasons, I have been actively involved in the process of building a team,” Rahul told JioStar.
Rahul, who was overwhelmed with feelings of anxiousness, nervousness, and excitement, was happy to join the Capitals and is now looking ahead to the new season. “I understand the kind of pressure franchises face when assembling a squad. But from a player’s perspective, it’s even tougher because your career is at stake. The auction can shape a player’s future or present unexpected challenges. I was definitely nervous, even a little anxious. But at the same time, I knew this was the right step for my career. There was excitement too, though it didn’t last very long because reality sets in quickly,” he said.
“I’m really happy to be joining the Delhi Capitals. Parth Jindal, the team’s owner, is a close friend, and we have spent a lot of time outside of cricket discussing various things. I know how passionate he is about the sport, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this team. We have a strong squad, and I’m looking forward to the season ahead,” he added.
While analysing the depth of the squad, Rahul admits it is a “solid” team and is “excited” to play alongside skilled stars, including Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Rahul, who recently lifted the Champions Trophy with India, will face his former side as Capitals open its campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24.
