Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians (MI) took a decisive step towards adding a sixth title to their name as they defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Eliminator of IPL 2025 played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh on May 30, Friday.
Former MI captain Rohit Sharma, who has experienced a mixed run of form this season, rose to the occasion in his team’s most important match of the year. With current skipper Hardik Pandya winning the toss and opting to bat first, Rohit played a fiery knock of 81 off 50 deliveries. His innings was studded with nine fours and four sixes.
Rohit was well supported by wicket-keeper batter Jonny Bairstow. The Englishman, who went unsold in the last year’s IPL mega auction and was signed up by Mumbai to replace countryman Will Jacks in the squad, set the tone of the innings with a blistering cameo of 47 in 22 deliveries. He was also instrumental in stitching a 84-run opening partnership with Rohit.
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The partnership gave the remaining Mumbai batters the leeway to play freely as Suryakumar Yadav (33 in 20 deliveries), Tilak Verma (25 in 11 deliveries) and Hardik (22 in 9 balls) chipped in with crucial cameos and helped Mumbai post a monumental score of 228/5 in 20 overs. It is the team’s highest total this season and the second-highest score in any playoff game.
Against Mumbai’s free-flowing batting GT’s bowling fell flat as none of the bowlers could come up with an impactful spell. Pacer Prasidh Krishna and spinner R Sai Kishore picked 2 wickets each but conceded 53 runs and 42 runs respectively from their four overs. Mohammed Siraj, who had enjoyed a great season up until this match picking 16 wickets in 15 games, was also rendered ineffective as he conceded 37 runs from his four overs picking just 1 wicket. Rashid Khan, the team’s most experienced IPL bowler, went wicketless.
In sharp contrast, MI bowlers stamped their authority on the match once the target of 229 was put on the board. Left-arm seamer Trent Boult jolted GT’s innings early as he removed their skipper Shubman Gill in the first over of the run-chase. With Gill gone, Kusal Mendis joined the proceedings in the middle. He counter-attacked and looked good in his knock of 20 in 9 deliveries before his luck ran out as he got hit-wicket as he was attempting to play a big shot against Mitchell Santner.
Early wickets did not deter Sai Sudharsan who looked steadfast in helping his team complete the run-chase. Sudharsan, already the owner of the coveted Orange Cap for scoring the most number of runs this season, played a valiant knock of 80 in 49 deliveries and hit 10 fours and a six. He was also involved in a 84-run partnership with Washigton Sundar. Washington also chipped in with an innings of substance as he scored 48 off 24 deliveries. The partnership between Sudharsan and Washington kept GT believing. This is where MI’s talisman Jasprit Bumrah stepped up as he clean bowled Washington in the 14th over. Two overs later Sudharsan was dismissed in similar fashion by MI’s English pacer Richard Gleeson dismissed . His wicket proved the final nail in GT’s coffin. Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan kept hitting the ball to the boundary ropes but it was academic as the required run-rate went beyond the team’s reach. Gujarat finished their innings at 208/6 in 20 overs handing Mumbai a win by 20 runs.
Rohit was adjudged the Player of the Match for his flamboyant knock.
The season is over for Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians now head to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where they will face Punjab Kings in the second qualifier which will be played on June 1, Sunday.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
