IPL 2025 Eliminator: Jonny Bairstow’s Sehwag-esque Blitz Neutralizes Gujarat Titans’ Ace Prasidh Krishna
In a dramatic turn of events at the IPL 2025 Eliminator, Jonny Bairstow, the English wicket-keeper batter, turned doubters into believers with a breathtaking performance for Mumbai Indians (MI) against Gujarat Titans (GT). Written off by many after going unsold in the initial auction and facing skepticism from Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Bairstow’s fiery 47 off just 22 balls not only silenced critics but also dismantled GT’s trump card, Prasidh Krishna, in a spectacle that echoed the legendary exploits of Virender Sehwag.
Bairstow’s journey to this defining moment wasn’t without hurdles. After a quiet 2024, where Rohit’s dismissive remark of ‘Isko kuch bhi daal’ (Bowl anything to him) during Bairstow’s 100th Test in Dharamsala stung deep, the 35-year-old found himself overlooked by IPL franchises. However, a stellar 525 runs at an average of 52.50 in the 2025 County Championship for Yorkshire earned him a late call-up to MI. Excluded from England’s white-ball squads against West Indies, Bairstow arrived in India with a point to prove—and prove he did, under the brightest of lights.
Facing him in the Eliminator was GT’s bowling spearhead, Prasidh Krishna, who had terrorized batters throughout the season with 25 wickets, including a match-defining spell against MI in the league stage where he claimed two scalps for just 18 runs in Ahmedabad. But Bairstow had other plans. From the very first ball of Krishna’s second over, the Englishman asserted dominance, slicing a boundary over point. What followed was sheer carnage—a staggering 26 runs off a single over, featuring three towering sixes and two fours, leaving Krishna shell-shocked and GT’s plans in tatters.
This relentless assault bore an uncanny resemblance to Virender Sehwag’s iconic 21-run over against Pakistan’s Umar Gul in the 2011 World Cup semi-final. Just as Gul crumbled under Sehwag’s attack, conceding 69 runs without a wicket, Krishna faltered, leaking 53 runs in his spell to become GT’s second-most expensive bowler in a crunch game. Bairstow, alongside Rohit Sharma, powered MI to a record-breaking 79-run powerplay, the highest for the franchise in IPL 2025, setting the stage for a commanding total of 228.
Though dismissed just shy of a fifty, Bairstow’s knock—studded with four fours and three sixes—laid an unassailable foundation for MI’s eventual victory. His ability to dominate under pressure came as no surprise to those who’ve worked closely with him. Power-hitting coach Julian Wood, who mentored Bairstow during his stints with Punjab Kings and England, revealed insights into his mindset in an exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com. “People wrote him off, saying he’s at the end of his career, but Jonny is a fighter. He thrives when his back is against the wall. His ability to hit any length makes him lethal in the powerplay. He’s ruthless, and that sets him apart,” Wood remarked.
Wood also highlighted Bairstow’s technical evolution, recalling a specific tweak during his Punjab Kings days. “I advised him to play back-of-length deliveries with a slightly angled bat instead of a straight one. He implemented it brilliantly against Josh Hazlewood in an IPL game, smashing him for 60 runs in four overs, repeatedly clearing mid-wicket and square leg for sixes. That adaptability showed in this Eliminator too,” he added.
Bairstow’s heroics have not only boosted his fanbase in Mumbai but likely earned newfound respect from Rohit Sharma, the man who once underestimated him. As MI march forward in IPL 2025, this knock will be remembered as a defining chapter in Bairstow’s redemption arc—a story of grit, skill, and an unyielding desire to defy the odds. For GT and Prasidh Krishna, it’s back to the drawing board after a night where one man’s brilliance eclipsed their season-long dominance.