MI vs GT Eliminator Highlights: The Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans, the two most successful teams in the history of the Indian Premier League, are facing each other at the Mullanpur Stadium. This marks the first knockout game of the season, as the winner of the two will advance to Qualifier 2, and the losing side will be shown the exit door.
Gujarat Titans won the IPL title in their debut season in 2023 and were runners-up only on one occasion back in 2023, having played just 2 playoffs before this. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians have 5 trophies under their belt, with wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. They have been runner-up once in 2011, with 7 playoffs played.
Hardik Pandya, the title-winning skipper for Gujarat Titans, is now leading the Mumbai Indians, while the Titans are being led by their young and dynamic skipper, Shubman Gill, who has much to prove after being named the skipper of the national side as well. Stepping on the field, the aggression between the two skippers was evident ever since the toss. Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat first.
MI vs GT Eliminator Highlights
MI vs GT Eliminator Highlights: Rohit Sharma and diligent debutant Bairstow hand MI the start for a mammoth total
Mumbai Indians included the Englishman Jonny Bairstow as the replacement for Ryan Rickelton after the Protea batter left the league, considering the priority of the preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship for his country. Bairstow showed composure and vast experience, as the batter delivered on debut with a blistering 22-ball 47-run knock before being caught off a stunning rebound catch between Coetzee and Sudharsan.
However, the star for the Mumbai Indians in today’s game was their most veteran batter, Rohit Sharma, as he smashed a stunning 81 runs after being dropped twice for 3 and 14 runs by the Gujarat Titans. Alongside the veteran opener, MI’s most inform batter, SKY, also made a cameo at the end along with Tilak Varma and skipper Hardik Pandya, handing MI the target they needed.
MI vs GT Eliminator Highlights: Feel for Sudharsan and Sundar; MI bowlers pull things off with stunning overs at the death
Coming into chase one of the highest ever totals in an IPL playoff, the Gujarat Titans looked in trouble, having lost their skipper and second-highest run scorer in the tournament, Shubman Gill, in the very first over of the game. However, with Sai Sudharsan still at the crease, the Titans could keep their hopes alive.
Likely with the expectations, Sudharsan took command of the GT innings and played an unbelievable knock of 80 runs off just 49 balls that took the game away from the grip of the Mumbai Indians. Alongside him, Kusal Mendis, the debutant, got off to a handsome start before suffering from a humiliating blunder he made at the track when he hit-wicket himself in an attempt to sweep Santner off.
Washington Sundar was the surprise package once again, sent early at no. 4 alongside Sudharsan. He smashed the great MI bowlers to all parts of the ground, taking runs off Boult and Pandya effortlessly. It was then that Skipper Pandya went to his best man as a last resort, and once again it’s Jasprit Bumrah who delivers the big blow to the Titans, as he rattles Sundar’s stumps with a toe-crashing yorker down the leg.
Richard Gleeson turned the game a bit more with the huge wicket of keyman Sai Sudharsan in the 16th over of the game; however, with Sherfane Rutherford and Tewatiya still on the crease, the hopes for the Titans remained high. However, some stunning bowling at the back end from Boult, Bumrah and youngster Ashwani Kumar earned Mumbai a huge 20-run victory over Gujarat Titans to take them into the qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings.
