Mumbai Indians (MI) reached the second Qualifier following their 20-run victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday. It was a clinical performance from the Mumbai-based franchise who first posted a humongous total of 228/5 in 20 overs before restricting GT to 208/6.
Jasprit Bumrah bowled a highly economical spell against GT
One of the star performers for MI in the match was Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled an economical four-over spell of 1/27. His spell was crucial in MI restricting GT from reaching the 229-run target.
Bumrah broke the 84-run partnership between Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar by dismissing the latter for 48 runs in the 14th over. The pacer bowled a fantastic yorker which ended up rattling Sundar's wickets and brought MI back into the game.
Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary stated that the match's outcome could have been different if Bumrah hadn't removed Sundar at the right time. He added that every batter today is scared of facing the veteran pacer on the pitch.
“Bumrah did his work like he always does. If he had not taken Washington's wicket, he was batting at a strike rate of 200, the match might have been a lot more tight. I used to remember Shane Warne being haunted by Sachin Tendulkar in his dreams, now in this age, every batter is haunted by Bumrah in their dreams,” Tiwary said on Cricbuzz.
Tiwary also pointed out that the turning point of MI's IPL 2025 campaign came when Bumrah returned from his injury. The 31-year-old has picked up 18 scalps in 11 matches so far this season, maintaining a brilliant economy rate of 6.36.
“The success that MI have now, their mantra has been Bumrah. Ever since he has joined the team from injury, MI's results have picked up. It is a fact, there are no two ways about it. When Bumrah is there, their bowling gets so strong that more than half of the work is sorted for the captain, because he is never expensive in his spell,” Tiwary added.
The Mumbai-based franchise will now be facing-off against the Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3. The winner of this match will go on to meet the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final on June 3.