Sai Sudharsan’s heroics went in useless as MI’s pacers closed out a 20-run win to seal a Qualifier 2 conflict vs PBKS.
Mumbai Indians have moved 1 game closer to reaching yet another IPL final. Hardik Pandya and Co kept their nerve to clinch a 20-run win over the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 Eliminator in Mullanpur on Friday. MI will face travel to Ahmedabad to face off against the Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2, with RCB waiting in the final.
Rohit, Bairstow star, Hardik lays finishing touches
A day after Punjab Kings were bowled out for 101, Mumbai Indians served up a batting masterclass. Jonny Bairstow in his first IPL game for MI smashed GT attack in the powerplay. Gujarat Titans were shoddy in the field allowing Rohit Sharma a couple of reprieves to push MI’s blistering start. Bairstow Rohit put on 82 in the powerplay, their best effort in IPL 2025.
Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore once again stood up for GT, dismissing Bairstow for 47. Suryakumar Yadav once again went past 25, while Rohit Sharma also brought up his half-century. MI did suffer a slowdown with Yadav and Rohit falling in quick succession. Tilak Varma chipped in with a fine cameo to fire the 5-time champions past 180. It was Hardik Pandya in the end who took MI past 220, with 3 sixes in the last over of Gerald Coetzee.
Bumrah, Ashwani outshine Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar’s double act
Chasing 229, Gujarat Titans were pegged immediately with Trent Boult sending captain Shubman Gill packing. Sai Sudharsan continued his blistering run and built a solid 50-run partnership with Kusal Mendis. Mendis however turned his debut into a nightmare, getting dismissed hit-wicket of Mitchell Santner.
Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan then took the MI attack apart in the middle overs. The Tamil Nadu duo chipped in with regular boundaries to keep the asking rate in check. Sudharsan reached yet another half-century, while Sundar smashed 18 off Bout to bring the equation to 53 off the last 4 overs.
However, Jasprit Bumrah delivered when MI needed him the most. Bumrah yorked Sundar for 48 and conceded just 4 in his over. Richard Gleeson then dismissed Sai Sudharsan for 80 to turn the game on its head. Bumrah sent through another over below 10, to finish with figures of 1/27 in his 4 overs. Rahul Tewatia, Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan all got a few boundaries, but eventually the target was well beyond reach.
The defeat meant that the Gujarat Titans are now knocked out of IPL 2025. Shubman Gill’s side had a chance to play the finals at home in Ahmedabad, but will instead call it curtains on a playoff campaign. MI meanwhile, now travel to Ahmedabad to face Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2. The winner of the PBKS vs MI clash will then face RCB in the IPL 2025 Final.
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