Rohit Sharma’s commanding 81 and a disciplined bowling effort propel MI to a 20-run victory over GT, setting up a clash with Punjab Kings for a place in the final.
In a high-octane IPL 2025 Eliminator at Mullanpur’s Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mumbai Indians (MI) showcased their championship pedigree by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 20 runs. This victory propels MI into Qualifier 2, where they will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on June 1 for a coveted spot in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 3.
Mumbai Indians’ Innings:
Opting to bat first, MI’s innings was anchored by a scintillating 81 off 50 balls from Rohit Sharma, who capitalized on early reprieves to punish the GT bowlers. His innings was laced with nine fours and four sixes, marking his fourth half-century of the season and propelling him past 7,000 IPL runs—a milestone achieved by only one other Indian, Virat Kohli.
Jonny Bairstow provided a fiery start with a 22-ball 47, including four boundaries and three sixes, forming a formidable opening partnership of 84 runs with Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav contributed a quick 33 off 20 balls, maintaining his streak of scoring over 25 runs in every match this season. Tilak Varma’s brisk 25 off 11 deliveries and skipper Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 22 off 9 balls, featuring three sixes, ensured MI posted a daunting total of 228/5 in their 20 overs.
Gujarat Titans’ Chase:
GT’s chase began on a shaky note as captain Shubman Gill was trapped lbw by Trent Boult for just 1 run in the first over. Sai Sudharsan and Kusal Mendis attempted to stabilize the innings, with Sudharsan playing a valiant knock of 80 off 49 balls, including ten fours and a six. Mendis added a quick 20 before an unfortunate hit-wicket dismissal.
Washington Sundar’s aggressive 48 off 24 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes, kept GT in contention. However, MI’s bowlers tightened the screws in the death overs. Jasprit Bumrah’s precise yorker dismissed Sundar, while Richard Gleeson accounted for Sudharsan, effectively derailing GT’s momentum. Despite late efforts from Sherfane Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia, GT fell short, finishing at 208/6.
Bowling Highlights:
For MI, Boult led the bowling attack with figures of 2/56. Bumrah, Gleeson, Mitchell Santner, and Ashwani Kumar each chipped in with a wicket, showcasing a collective bowling effort that stifled GT’s chase.
Looking Ahead:
With this victory, MI advances to Qualifier 2 against PBKS, while GT’s journey in IPL 2025 comes to an end. The winner of the upcoming clash will face RCB in the final, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament.