In a rain-curtailed encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, Gujarat Titans pulled off a nail-biting victory against Mumbai Indians by 3 wickets, courtesy of the DLS method. Chasing a revised target of 147 in 19 overs, the Titans showcased composure and timely fireworks to seal the win with just one ball to spare.
Mumbai Indians Struggle Despite Strong Middle-Order Show
Mumbai Indians, put in to bat first, posted a competitive 155/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began on a shaky note with opener Rickelton dismissed on just the second ball of the match. Rohit Sharma tried to stabilize the innings with a 10-boundary 78 off 89 balls, but the slow scoring rate kept MI under pressure.
Will Jacks (53 off 35) and Suryakumar Yadav (35 off 24) provided some much-needed momentum in the middle overs. However, a series of quick wickets between overs 10 and 16 dented MI’s chances of a big finish. Contributions from the lower order were minimal, with only Corbin Bosch (27 off 22) offering resistance.
Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat, finishing with impressive figures of 4-0-34-2, while Rashid Khan’s tight spell (4-0-21-1) kept the batters in check during the middle overs.
Gujarat Titans Hold Nerve in Tense Run Chase
Chasing a revised target of 147 in 19 overs due to rain, Gujarat got off to a steady start with Sai Sudharsan scoring a measured 55 off 55 balls. The turning point came with Shubman Gill’s explosive 43 off 22, which set the tone for the middle-order hitters.
However, the chase was far from smooth. Mumbai’s bowlers, especially Bumrah (4-0-19-2) and Boult (4-0-22-2), kept striking at crucial junctures. Ashwani Kumar chipped in with two key wickets, including that of Jos Buttler and Rashid Khan.
When Gerald Coetzee fell at 146 in the penultimate over, the game seemed headed for a photo finish. But Rahul Tewatia, calm under pressure, steered Gujarat home with a quickfire 11* off 8 balls, sealing the win with a single off the last over.
Final Thoughts
This victory not only adds valuable points for Gujarat Titans but also highlights their depth and composure under pressure. Mumbai Indians, despite moments of brilliance with the bat and ball, will rue the middle-order collapse and inability to accelerate in the death overs.
As the tournament heats up, this match will be remembered as a thrilling example of T20 cricket’s unpredictability and excitement.
