Daijiworld Media Network - New Chandigarh
New Chandigarh, May 31: Rohit Sharma’s explosive 81-run knock and crucial breakthroughs from pacers Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah helped Mumbai Indians outgun Gujarat Titans by 20 runs in a high-stakes IPL 2025 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Friday, securing their place in Qualifier 2.
Sent in to bat, Mumbai Indians posted a mammoth 228/5, with Rohit and debutant Jonny Bairstow (47) laying a strong foundation. Rohit’s innings featured nine boundaries and four sixes, though he rode his luck after being dropped twice early on — first by Gerald Coetzee and then by Kusal Mendis. Bairstow, meanwhile, went on the attack, dismantling Prasidh Krishna for 26 runs in a single over, including three sixes. Mumbai surged to their highest-ever IPL play-offs powerplay total — 79 without loss.
Bairstow’s fireworks ended thanks to a stunning effort from Sai Sudharsan, who dove full stretch at backward point to complete a juggling catch off Sai Kishore. Rohit continued to dominate, bringing up his fourth half-century of the season in just 28 balls, before falling to a slower ball from Krishna.
Suryakumar Yadav (33) kept up the momentum with his trademark aggression, though he too was dropped by Mendis in a forgettable night for the Gujarat fielders. Tilak Varma (25) and captain Hardik Pandya (22) added the finishing touches, with Hardik smashing three sixes in the final over to push the total beyond 225.
In reply, Gujarat Titans managed 208/6, falling short despite a spirited fight led by Sudharsan’s fluent 80 off 40 balls and Washington Sundar’s quickfire 48. Trent Boult struck early, trapping Shubman Gill (1) in front to dent Gujarat’s chase right away. Sudharsan and Mendis (20) counterattacked but Mendis’s night ended in bizarre fashion, hitting his own stumps while attempting a sweep off Mitchell Santner.
Sundar looked dangerous, lifting Pandya and Boult for sixes, but just as the required rate looked manageable, Bumrah delivered a pinpoint yorker to castle Sundar’s stumps, halting the momentum. Sherfane Rutherford’s (24) late cameo and Shahrukh Khan’s (13) big hit off Boult gave Gujarat brief hope, but Gleeson and Ashwani Kumar closed the game with tight overs, leaving Gujarat 20 runs adrift.
Boult (2-56) and Bumrah (1-27) were Mumbai’s standouts with the ball, while Ashwani Kumar kept things tight at the death.
Mumbai now advance to Qualifier 2, keeping their title hopes alive.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians: 228/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 81, Jonny Bairstow 47, Suryakumar Yadav 33; 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.