Chandigarh: A throwback to Rohit Sharma’s vintage flair and a last-over blitz from skipper Hardik Pandya fired Mumbai Indians into Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025 with a 20-run win over Gujarat Titans in a high-octane Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
Under pressure in a knockout clash, MI came out swinging. Choosing to bat first, they racked up a towering 228 for 5, thanks to Rohit’s authoritative 81 off 50 balls, an innings that stitched together finesse and firepower, and a death-over assault led by Hardik, whose three monstrous sixes in the final over turned a strong total into an imposing one.
In reply, Gujarat never quite recovered from an early jolt and despite a valiant 80 by young Sai Sudharsan, they could only muster 208 for 6 in their 20 overs. Mumbai bowlers, spearheaded by Trent Boult and supported by Jasprit Bumrah’s precision, kept their composure under pressure and sealed the deal.
Rohit, who had been quiet this season, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. The former MI captain unfurled nine crisp boundaries and four effortless sixes, bringing up his 47th IPL fifty and becoming only the second player after Virat Kohli to breach the 7000-run barrier in IPL history.
Jonny Bairstow (47 off 28) gave MI a rousing start with a flurry of boundaries, and though he fell to a stunning boundary-line relay catch between Sai Kishore and Gerald Coetzee, MI’s momentum never waned. Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 20) and Tilak Varma (25 off 11) played with freedom, allowing Rohit to anchor while the middle order swung freely.
The fireworks arrived in the final stretch. Tilak Varma smashed a 93-metre six off Mohammed Siraj before falling, setting the stage for Hardik’s entry. The MI captain walked in with clear intent and exploded in the last over, bowled by Coetzee, sending one sailing over the sightscreen before dispatching two more sixes into the stands en route to 22 runs in that over alone.
Faced with a steep target, GT lost captain Shubman Gill early to a Boult inswinger. Kusal Mendis (20) and Washington Sundar (48 off 24) tried to rebuild, with Sundar particularly impressive in counterattack, but regular wickets derailed their chase.
Sai Sudharsan, unflustered at one end, played a fine hand, his 80 off 49 balls included ten fours and a six, but lacked meaningful support in the slog overs. Cameos from Sherfane Rutherford (24), Shahrukh Khan (13), and Rahul Tewatia (16 not out) narrowed the gap, but the required rate kept climbing as Mumbai closed in with disciplined bowling.
Trent Boult (4-0-56-2) struck key blows, while Bumrah (4-0-27-1) choked the flow at the death. Ashwani Kumar, Richard Gleeson and Mitchell Santner chipped in with a wicket each.
Adding to Gujarat’s woes was their sub-par fielding, Kusal Mendis grassed a sitter and Coetzee dropped a tough but crucial chance, both reprieves to Rohit and Suryakumar that cost them dearly. Mumbai’s fielding, in contrast, was sharp and assured.
With this win, MI, who have now crossed 200-plus for the third time this season, march into Qualifier 2, where they will meet Punjab Kings, who went down to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians: 228/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 81, Jonny Bairstow 47, Suryakumar Yadav 33, Hardik Pandya 22*; Sai Kishore 2/42, Prasidh Krishna 2/53)
Gujarat Titans: 208/6 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 80, Washington Sundar 48; Trent Boult 2/56, Jasprit Bumrah 1/27)
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 20 runs.
