Mumbai: Gujarat Titans (GT) held their nerve in a rain-hit, edge-of-the-seat encounter to defeat Mumbai Indians (MI) by three wickets via the DLS method in a dramatic finish that spilled into the early hours of Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium here.
In a truncated 19-over contest that oscillated wildly, Rahul Tewatia once again played the role of finisher-in-chief, pulling off a stunning final-ball win that catapulted GT firmly on No. 1 spot in the points table.
The night threatened to fizzle out after a sudden downpour interrupted play with GT needing 24 off 12 balls. When the game resumed at 12:30 am, the revised target under the DLS method stood at 147, with GT needing 15 runs from the final six deliveries. Deepak Chahar had the ball, and the stage was set for a finish worthy of the IPL’s growing reputation for last-over thrillers.
Tewatia, ever the man for the moment, got things rolling with a crisp four off the first ball. Tension peaked when Gerald Coetzee hammered a six down the ground, only to perish on the next delivery, top-edging a skier to Naman Dhir. Chahar, under immense pressure, nearly pulled it back, but a no-ball proved costly.
With one needed off the final ball, Arshad Khan nudged the ball to mid-off and darted through. Hardik Pandya’s direct-hit attempt missed the stumps, and with Chahar not backing up and Suryakumar Yadav unable to cover in time, GT sealed a heart-stopping win. Arshad punched the air in jubilation as GT’s dugout erupted, while MI were left stunned by a loss that slipped away at the death.
GT’s chase was anchored by a patient 43 off 46 balls from Shubman Gill. Though Jasprit Bumrah’s incisive spell (2/19) accounted for Gill and Shahrukh Khan to keep MI in the hunt, Sherfane Rutherford turned the tide with a breezy 28 off 15 balls before falling to Trent Boult. Tewatia and Coetzee’s late surge proved decisive.
Earlier, MI posted 155 for 8 in their allotted 19 overs after being put in to bat. Their innings started in disarray as Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan struck early to remove Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma inside three overs. Will Jacks then steadied the ship with a fluent 53 off 35 balls, cashing in on two reprieves by the GT fielders.
However, once Jacks fell in the 12th over, MI collapsed from 97 for 2 to 113 for 6. Suryakumar Yadav offered brief resistance with a brisk 35, but wickets continued to tumble, thanks to sharp fielding and tight spells from GT’s bowlers. R Sai Kishore impressed with 2 for 34, while Shubman Gill’s direct hit and Buttler’s ground-fielding removed Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma respectively.
A spirited late cameo from Corbin Bosch (27 off 22), including two audacious sixes off Prasidh Krishna, gave MI a late boost. His run out – courtesy of a sharp throw from Buttler – came on the penultimate ball, and a last-ball boundary from Chahar lifted MI to a competitive 155.
The win propelled GT to the top of the points table, while MI were left to rue missed opportunities and fielding lapses in a match that was theirs for the taking.
In a season filled with memorable finishes, this pulsating contest could well be remembered as one of IPL 2025’s defining moments.
