IPL 2025 Eliminator: Mumbai Indians Survive Sai Sudarshan Scare In 20-Run Win Over Gujarat Titans

Rohit Sharma’s 81, coupled with the expertise of bowlers Trent Boult (2-56) and Jasprit Bumrah (1-27) proved pivotal for Mumbai Indians claiming a spot in Qualifier 2, with a 20-run win over Gujarat Titans in Eliminator match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in New Chandigarh on Friday.

Of their chase of 229, Gujarat Titans scored 208/6 in 20 overs on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Worldwide Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

With no Jos Buttler within the batting order, Shubman Gill (1) actually wanted to fireside however fell to Trent Boult’s opening spell. With a large chase forward, the Kiwi pacer caught Gill plumb in entrance, which was confirmed after an unsuccessful evaluate by GT, to start out on the proper foot.

After a fiery opening two overs by Boult and Bumrah, Sudharsan and Kusal Mendis (20) started to shift gears and began an onslaught of their very own.

Sudarsan started proceedings by flicking Boult for six earlier than Mendis, changing Buttler, struck the left-arm pacer for consecutive maximums. The left-handed opener displayed an array of pictures and carved the Mumbai tempo assault by the gaps to all elements of the bottom. Hardik Pandya determined to bowl for the primary time within the power-play however was hit for 3 boundaries.

Mendis discovered himself in no-man’s land on the ultimate ball of the power-play, after a mix-up whereas working, however Raj Bawa missed the stumps as GT reached 66/1, with the fielding restrictions being lifted. Nonetheless, Mendis’ horror evening, regardless of a stable batting innings, which started with him dropping two catches, ended with him hitting his stumps. The Sri Lanka batter tried to brush Mitchell Santner, however his leg slipped and he knocked over his stumps.

Sudharsan raised his sixth half-century of the season in 28 deliveries, and crossed the 700-run mark for the season, whereas Washington Sundar (48) settled into the crease. Regardless of the autumn in wickets, Gujarat’s run charge continued to match the excessive requirement. Sundar started to ramp up his innings with a 4 and a six off Pandya, each off low full-toss deliveries, earlier than smashing consecutive sixes in an 18-run Trent Boult over.

With Gujarat nearing the 150 mark in 13 overs, Hardik wanted his most trusted bowler to finish the partnership, which was approaching the 100-run mark, and Bumrah did it in typical vogue. The pacer bowled a scintillating yorker, which Sundar had no reply to. The ball castled into stumps, leaving the all-rounder on the ground.

Sherfane Rutherford (24) started with a bang and struck three boundaries earlier than Gleeson ended Sudharsan’s evening. The Englishman, who changed Corbin Bosch, claimed the necessary wicket of Sudharsan, who was stunned by a yorker whereas trying a scoop shot.

Ashwani Kumar and Bumrah restricted boundaries to a minimal, with 9 runs every coming off the next overs, with Rahul Tewatia (16) claiming a towering most over the latter. With the strain rising and 36 wanted off 12, Boult served it proper within the slot, however Rutherford, connecting with the toe finish of the bat, holed it straight to Tilak Varma at deep mid-wicket.

With 30 wanted off seven, it appeared the end result was sure earlier than Shahrukh Khan (13) struck a large six off the Kiwi to revive the gang. Gleeson was trusted with the ultimate six deliveries, however he cramped up whereas working in and was solely capable of bowl three, during which he conceded as many runs. Ashwani Kumar completed the remaining spell, while additionally dismissing Shahrukh to seal the 20-run victory.

After surprisingly opting to bat first, Rohit and Jonny Bairstow (47) set the platform as Mumbai Indians posted a large complete of 228/5 in 20 overs.

Rohit’s innings, which showcased his brute power and talent to cross the boundary comfy, was laced with 9 boundaries and 4 sixes. Nonetheless, it was not an ideal one as the previous India skipper was dropped twice on the day, in what can solely be described as a poor outing for the 2022 winners within the area.

His first lifeline got here when he was batting on three runs. Rohit pulled in direction of Gerald Coetzee within the deep, which the Proteas participant fumbled by his fingers. Within the very subsequent over, Rohit confirmed why Gujarat can’t afford to present him a lifeline as he struck Mohammed Siraj for consecutive boundaries. Nonetheless, Siraj nearly had his man as he discovered Rohit’s exterior edge, however Kusal Mendis couldn’t seize onto it behind the wicket.

Bairstow, making his debut for MI, was in no temper to permit the bowlers to dictate phrases, and he took Prasidh Krishna to the cleaners, blasting 26 runs off the fourth over, with three maximums. The duo helped MI rating their highest complete ever in power-play through the IPL play-offs with 79/0 in six overs.

Having dropped two catches already, Sai Sudharsan produced an unimaginable second with lightning reflexes and a pinch of luck to disclaim Bairstow his half-century. Making an attempt a reverse sweep off Sai Kishore, Bairstow nearly discovered the hole however Sudharsan dived throughout to his left and stored the ball within the air, with Coetzee finishing the tag catch.

Rohit went on to lift his fourth half-century of the season in 28 deliveries.

MI’s most constant participant of the season, Suryakumar Yadav (33) was in no temper for taking his time and struck Coetzee for consecutive sixes over fantastic leg and backward level, respectively. GT had their third missed probability of the day when Mendis as soon as once more did not latch on to the catch, off the following ball, which may have despatched Yadav packing.

The 34-year-old raised his fifteenth consecutive 25+ rating in a males’s T20 competitors, extending his document, earlier than taking part in a sweep, off a full toss by Sai Kishore, however mistimed it to Washington Sundar on the boundary.

Rohit and Tilak Varma (25) claimed sixes every off Coetzee earlier than Rohit’s innings got here to an finish. A slower supply by Prasidh Krishna noticed Rohit get a high edge in direction of mid-wicket, the place the secure fingers of Rashid made no mistake.

Regardless of going for 53 runs in his four-over spell, Prasidh pulled issues again for GT as he delivered Naman Dhir’s (9) scalp within the penultimate over, whereas MI crossed the 200-run mark.

Skipper Hardik Pandya (22) hammered Coetzee for 3 maximums within the remaining over as MI reached the overall of 228/5.