Gujarat Titans scored 168/6 in 20 overs, where as Mumbai Indians scored 162/9 in 20 overs.
So, finally Gujarat Titans beat Mumbai Indians by 6 runs.
A display of expert death bowling propelled Gujarat Titans to a thrilling six-run win against Mumbai Indians.
Despite needing 42 runs off the last six overs with seven wickets in hand, Mumbai Indians faltered under pressure as Gujarat executed their strategy flawlessly.
Cool under pressure
Shubman Gill’s death bowlers, led by veteran Mohit Sharma, delivered effectively.
Mohit’s back-of-the-hand slower ones proved challenging on the sticky pitch, accounting for Dewald Brevis and Tim David.
David Miller’s athletic catch in the deep added to the spectacle.
With 39 runs needed from three overs, Tilak Varma and David denied singles off Rashid Khan, intensifying the pressure.
Spencer Johnson, despite conceding a six initially, staged a comeback with wickets of Varma and Gerald Coetzee, sealing the victory.
A fairy-tale ending for the Titans
The Titans’ former skipper Hardik Pandya, who entered the fray late, emerged as the last hope for his team.
Pandya’s aggressive strokes, including a six and a four off Umesh Yadav’s first two deliveries, reduced the required runs to 9 off four balls.
However, his dismissal while attempting a pull shot marked the end of Mumbai’s swift decline after a promising start, sealing their fate.
Rohit and Brevis ignite MI’s pursuit
Following Ishan Kishan’s four-ball dismissal, MI’s innings gained momentum with a rapid 10-ball 20 from Naman Dhir at No. 3.
Subsequently, Rohit Sharma and Brevis capitalized on dewy conditions, forging a brisk 77-run partnership.
Gujarat’s left-arm spinner Sai Kishore emerged as a standout bowler, conceding only 24 runs in his four overs and claiming the crucial wicket of Rohit, LBW on the sweep, sparking a remarkable turnaround.
The bowlers ensured that their moderate total appeared formidable.
Could Gujarat Titans have amassed beyond 168?
Despite the pitch not posing significant challenges, it slightly favored the spinners.
While several Gujarat batters initiated promising innings, they struggled to convert them into substantial scores.
Sai Sudharsan crafted his way to 45 runs, while Shubman Gill showcased glimpses of brilliance with three fours and a six in his 31.
Gujarat relied on one of their top-order batsmen to capitalize on their starts and carry the innings forward.
Why couldn’t they?
Mainly due to the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah.
The pacer’s exceptional performance, finishing with figures of 3-14, applied significant pressure with crucial breakthroughs.
Displaying a diverse array of skills, Bumrah first dismissed Wriddhiman Saha for 19 with a well-executed yorker.
He then outsmarted David Miller with a slower delivery and immediately had the well-set Sudharsan caught in the deep.
Bumrah’s consistent strikes ensured Gujarat’s momentum was consistently halted, a trend that persisted into the death overs.
Coetzee shines alongside Bumrah
MI’s recent addition, pacer Gerald Coetzee, was held back for the latter part of the innings, a strategy that paid off.
Coetzee made an impact by dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai, who was attempting aggressive strokes off a hard length delivery.
Despite a threatening display from Gujarat towards the end, notably Rahul Tewatia’s assault on Luke Wood in the 18th over, which yielded 19 runs, both Bumrah and Coetzee managed to contain the opposition.
They conceded only 12 runs in the final two overs, with Coetzee also claiming the wicket of Tewatia.
The strategies implemented by new captain Hardik Pandya were executed almost flawlessly, yet failed to win over the crowd.
No warm welcome
Despite being a former Gujarat Titans title-winning captain, Hardik Pandya’s move to Mumbai Indians through a transfer hasn’t been well received by a portion of the fans.
He faced jeers during the toss and intermittently throughout the match.
While making a comeback to bowling in the tournament, he conceded 30 runs in three overs.
Although he showed promise with the bat, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
What lies ahead for the teams?
Gujarat Titans have a mere day’s break before traveling from their home city to Chennai, where they will take on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s CSK on Tuesday (March 26).
Meanwhile, MI also heads south to Hyderabad, where they will encounter SRH a day later (March 27).
Leave a Reply