New Delhi: The IPL 2025 Eliminator clash between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians proved to an ultimate showdown putting the spectators to the edge of their seats. One of the most entertaining matches in the 18th edition of the cash-rich tournament, the exciting contest set the stage on fire in Mullanpur.
A do or die clash for both the sides, it proved just like the same as both Gujarat and Mumbai were involved in a battle of the fittest, where the five-time champions proved a bit hot for the Titans in the game which went down to the wire. Chasing a mammoth total in a crucial match, Gujarat roared like champions in the tough chase after some sloppy act in the first innings but Mumbai enjoyed the last laugh.
With some poor fielding effort initially and not so perfect bowling, Gujarat allowed Mumbai to flex fully and score too many runs which made the encounter what it proved to be. While they were sluggish in the first innings but the Titans behaved exactly opposite during the chase as they roared like champions chasing the big target swiftly but their valiant efforts didn’t prove enough to help them stay alive in the league.
What went wrong for GT
The Gujarat Titans side, that played exceptionally well all through the league, faltered at the final hurdle. A win in the match could have got them a step closer to the summit clash but the Titans were unable to gather the required momentum and focus in a game which mattered the most. While the batters proved that they were capable of chasing even the biggest of the totals, fielders and to a certain extent bowlers, let the one-time champions down.
While GT came up with all-round efforts in the league to emerge as one of best units but failed to carry on the momentum in the Eliminator. Because of some sloppy act on the field where the fielders dropped the catch of Rohit Sharma not once but twice, the team had to pay. The dropped catch early on in the innings cost the side a lot as Rohit turned lethal scoring 81 runs in 50 balls that made the difference in the match. Had Mumbai been restricted to a lesser total, Gujarat batters, who decimated the Mumbai bowlers, would have helped the side cross the finish line.
Mumbai come step closer to title
The batting was supreme as Rohit Sharma once again proved that he is the man for big occasions with a power-packed half century. After getting couple of lifelines early on in the innings, Rohit made the most of the opportunity showcasing his best skills in a do or die encounter. An aid from opening partner Jonny Bairstow, who scored useful 47 runs and quick knocks from Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma made Rohit’s inning even more useful as the side put on a hefty total.
In the second innings when it seemed that Mumbai had lost the grip of match but then suddenly bounced back handling the nerves in a better manner on a big stage to outlast the Titans. It was a sensational yorker from star pacer Jasprit Bumrah that helped breaking the deadly Gujarat partnership, that had taken the game away from them and brought Titans closer to the shore. Winning the key moments to advance in the league, Mumbai play Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 with an aim to reach the final, yet again.
IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians earned a Qualifier 2 berth with a hard-fought 20-run win over Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator clash on Friday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
