New Delhi: Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are all in readiness to lock horns for one final time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as they clash in the Eliminator at the Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday. An all-important playoff match of the season, it would provide the winning side a ticket to Qualifier 2 on their road to the epic final, while the losing side would be straight knocked out.
The league stage saw the two teams taking on each other twice, and Gujarat had the better of Mumbai, taking away both games. Gujarat’s juggernaut looked set for a top-two finish, but their last two losses in the league phase landed them in the third spot. The thrilling clash can be weighed with the exceptional players the two teams boast, and when they will engage in a fierce battle of bat and bowl, several face-offs are supposed to be on the tenterhooks.
In the points table, GT and MI and third and fourth, respectively, carrying 18 and 16 points. While GT won nine games and lost five, MI won eight and lost six. Talking of their net run rate, MI are way ahead of GT’s +0.25, boasting +1.142, courtesy of their recent resurgence in the season. They have already faced each other for two times in the league stage this season as GT claimed the first leg fixture by 36 runs in Ahmedabad and claimed the return leg match as well, by three wickets (DLS method) in Mumbai. It all comes back at New Chandigarh for one final time for the two teams.
So… what can be expected from the clash and who are the key players that carry a lot of potential to turn the game on its head when it is required the most? Let’s have a look at such players from both sides and what’s going to happen when they come head-to-head.
2️⃣ teams that know what it takes to win the title 🏆
But only 1️⃣ remains in contention after tonight 👊
We’re closing in on @gujarat_titans🆚@mipaltan in the #Eliminator 🤩#TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #TheLastMile pic.twitter.com/Zfb8VsGrBI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025
GT vs MI Eliminator Key Battles
Trent Boult vs Sai Sudharsan
MI speedster Trent Boult could very well headline their bowling attack in this crucial clash as he has fancy numbers against the GT openers, which makes his outing the earliest sub-plot. The left-arm quick has dismissed Sai Sudharsan twice – both in this season, conceding just 31 off 30 balls to him. Not just Sudharsan, but he has tamed the GT skipper Shubman Gill as well, dismissing him once and giving away only 74 off 69 deliveries in the IPL. He has also come good against Sherfane Rutherford, dismissing him twice in seven balls.
Rashid Khan vs Rohit Sharma
Although Rohit has done quite well against the two GT pacers – Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, he has been largely troubled by the Afghan leggie Rashid Khan in this tournament. Even though Rashid hasn’t had the most potent season by his standards, but has been successful in repeatedly flummoxing Rohit in the past. He has conceded just 35 off 32 deliveries to him, for two dismissals. The mystery spinner has also come good against Tilak Varma (24/2 in 23 balls) and Hardik Pandya (28/2 in 38 balls).
Rahul Tewatia vs Jasprit Bumrah
While one might consider this battle not being too much fancied, this is where the entire crux of the Eliminator might lie. Not specifically Rahul Tewatia against Jasprit Bumrah, but the GT middle order might have a task to pull off and could be facing none other than the ferocious Bumrah. While GT holds a firm belief in their lower-middle, to provide them that final push, Bumrah, with his death overs, could be standing as a hurdle.
While Tewatia is known for muscle-hitting and is capable of smashing some unorthodox shots, his outing against Bumrah will be a treat for the eyes, and it would be interesting to see if Tewatia can do an Ashutosh Sharma-sweep-six kind of thing to Bumrah to make the IPL fans take a trip down memory lane.
GT and MI are all set to vie for a spot in the IPL 2025 final in the Eliminator clash scheduled on Friday. Here are some of the key battles that can have a larger impact on the game, making it decisive. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
