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Gujarat Titans (GT) notched their first win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as they defeated five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by 36 runs at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on March 29, Saturday. With this Mumbai Indians' losing streak at the Narendra Modi stadium continues.
GT's dominance over MI continues with 36-run win
GT posted a daunting target of 197 runs riding on Sai Sudharsan's 63. In reply, MI ran out of steam and were bundled out for just 160/6 as Suryakumar Yadav's blistering 28-ball 48 went in vain.
Mumbai Indians got off to a disastrous beginning to their run chase when their former captain, Rohit Sharma, was clean bowled by a fantastic delivery from Mohammed Siraj. Siraj's delivery was a dream for any fast bowler, skidding off the pitch, finding its way past Rohit's defenses, and hitting the top of the wickets. Rohit departed after scoring just 8 runs off 4 balls.
The fiery pacer, however, was not content with just one wicket. Capitalizing on the powerplay overs for Gujarat Titans, he also dismissed Ryan Rickelton, sending him back to the pavilion for a mere six runs. This early double blow left Mumbai Indians reeling at 35 for two wickets in just 4.3 overs, marking the start of their chase unraveling.
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma then forged a crucial 63-run partnership for the third wicket, providing some stability to the innings. However, Prasidh Krishna broke this stand by dismissing Varma for a well-fought 39 runs off 36 balls. Krishna then struck another vital blow, ending Suryakumar Yadav's resilient innings at 48 runs off 28 balls. At the time of Surya's dismissal, Mumbai Indians still required a challenging 67 runs for victory in the remaining four overs.
With the responsibility of guiding the chase now firmly on Hardik Pandya's shoulders, the Gujarat Titans' bowlers executed their plans brilliantly, denying him any opportunities to score freely. He struggled to find his rhythm, managing only 11 runs off 17 deliveries as Mumbai Indians fell further behind the required run rate. Ultimately, Mumbai Indians fell short by 36 runs, allowing Gujarat Titans to extend their impressive winning record at their home ground in Ahmedabad.
Sai Sudharsan's 63 in GT's dominant win
Sudharsan's well-crafted 63 helped GT post 196/8 on the board. The left-handed batsman from Tamil Nadu displayed elegant wristwork and precise shot placement during his 41-ball knock, which included four boundaries and two sixes. Just when GT seemed poised to surpass the 200-run mark, Hardik Pandya effectively curbed their momentum after the powerplay. He finished with impressive figures of two wickets for 29 runs, and his influence extended beyond his bowling as he also executed a run-out of Rahul Tewatia for nine runs.
The dismissal of Sai Sudharsan in the 18th over, trapped leg-before-wicket by a sharp yorker from Trent Boult, sparked a mini-collapse in the GT's innings. They proceeded to lose three wickets in just three balls across two overs. The hard-hitting Sherfane Rutherford was also dismissed in the penultimate over for 18 runs off 11 balls, including two sixes, ensuring that Mumbai Indians kept the final total within a manageable range. On the black-soil pitch at Motera, which offered variable bounce, a score around 190 appeared to be a par total. Sudharsan began his innings strongly, hitting two stylish boundaries off Trent Boult in the second over.
Later in his innings, Sai Sudharsan attacked Mujeeb Ur Rahman, greeting the spinner with a boundary off a delivery that was dragged down before powerfully hitting him for a six straight over his head.
Demonstrating good game awareness, Sudharsan adapted his approach as wickets began to fall at the other end. While he reduced the frequency of his boundary shots, he ensured that the GT's run rate remained steady at approximately nine runs per over.
He reached his eighth IPL half-century in 33 deliveries, a milestone punctuated by a magnificent 84-meter six that soared over deep mid-wicket, showcasing his ability to clear the boundary with power.
GT captain Shubman Gill, also looked comfortable at the crease, contributing 38 runs off 27 balls, which included four boundaries and one six. He predominantly played his shots in front of the wicket.
The opening pair established a strong foundation with a 78-run partnership, effectively utilizing the pace and bounce of the new ball. Spin was introduced into the attack in the fifth over.
Sudharsan took the initiative against Mujeeb Ur Rahman, while Gill capitalised on any errors in line from the Afghan off-spinner, particularly when he bowled on the leg side, dispatching him through fine leg for a boundary. This over yielded a productive 15 runs for GT, propelling their score to 46 for no loss after five overs. The final over of the powerplay proved even more fruitful, as Gill stepped out to Deepak Chahar and smashed him for a six, followed by a well-executed short-arm jab for a four, helping GT accelerate to 66 for no loss. While Mumbai Indians' fielding displayed some rustiness, with instances of overthrows and missed run-out opportunities, Hardik Pandya's tactical acumen, despite the continued absence of Jasprit Bumrah from their bowling attack, played a crucial role in keeping GT's scoring in check.
GT will now take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 2, while MI's next match will be against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 31.
