Introduction: In a high-octane clash at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur (New Chandigarh), the Gujarat Titans’ dream of clinching the IPL 2025 title was shattered by a ruthless Mumbai Indians side in the Eliminator. A heartbroken Shubman Gill, captain of the Titans, opened up about the crushing 20-run defeat that ended their campaign, lamenting crucial fielding lapses that cost his team dearly.
Match Recap: Mumbai Indians, led by a vintage Rohit Sharma, posted a mammoth 228 for 5 after opting to bat first. Rohit’s explosive 81, coupled with a fiery 47 off just 22 balls from England’s Jonny Bairstow—making his first appearance this season—set the tone for MI’s dominance. Despite early reprieves with dropped catches on 3 and 12, Rohit capitalized, crossing the monumental 7000-run mark in IPL history and notching his 47th IPL fifty. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 20) and a late blitz by captain Hardik Pandya (22* off 9) propelled MI to a formidable total, with Pandya smashing 22 runs off the final over against Gerald Coetzee.
In response, Gujarat Titans faltered early with Gill trapped lbw for just 1 by Trent Boult. However, Sai Sudharsan, the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 759 runs, fought valiantly with a stroke-filled 80. Supported by Washington Sundar’s aggressive 48 off 24 in an 84-run partnership, GT stayed in the hunt. Yet, Mumbai’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah turned the tide with a lethal yorker to dismiss Sundar, while Richard Gleeson cleaned up Sudharsan, derailing the chase. A late cameo from Sherfane Rutherford (24) wasn’t enough as GT finished at 208 for 6, falling short with 24 runs needed in the final over.
Shubman Gill’s Reflections: Speaking at the post-match presentation, a dejected Gill pinpointed fielding as the decisive factor. ‘It was a brilliant game of cricket; we were right in it until the last three or four overs didn’t go our way. Dropping three sitters made it nearly impossible for our bowlers to control the game,’ he said. He highlighted the dew factor making the wicket easier to bat on later but stressed that such errors were unforgivable in a knockout match. Gill also praised Sudharsan’s consistency, calling him ‘terrific’ for GT this season, and noted that a target of 210 would have been par on this pitch.
Looking Ahead: With this win, Mumbai Indians advance to Qualifier 2, where they will face Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The winner will earn a spot in the grand finale against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on June 3. For Gujarat Titans, it’s back to the drawing board, but with positives like Sudharsan’s form and Sundar’s all-round potential, there’s hope for a stronger comeback next season.
Conclusion: As the dust settles on this thrilling Eliminator, Gujarat Titans’ exit underscores the fine margins of T20 cricket. Shubman Gill and his team will rue missed chances, but Mumbai Indians’ clinical performance—led by Rohit Sharma’s masterclass—proved why they remain five-time champions. The road to the IPL 2025 title continues to heat up, and all eyes now turn to Ahmedabad for the next chapter of this exciting tournament.