Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Tewatia Clash in Heated Exchange During IPL 2025 Eliminator
In a thrilling clash of titans at the IPL 2025 Eliminator, Mumbai Indians (MI) secured a gripping 20-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While MI punched their ticket to Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings, it wasn’t just the on-field action that grabbed headlines. A fiery mid-pitch confrontation between MI’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and GT’s dynamic all-rounder Rahul Tewatia became the talk of the town, encapsulating the raw intensity of knockout cricket.
The drama unfolded in the high-pressure 18th over of Gujarat’s chase of a daunting 189-run target. With GT needing quick runs, Tewatia, known for his clutch finishing in past IPL seasons, smashed Bumrah for a colossal six over deep mid-wicket, igniting hope in the GT dugout and sending a wave of tension through MI’s camp. However, Bumrah, the world-class pacer with a knack for bouncing back, responded immediately. The next ball saw Tewatia swing and miss, followed by another failed attempt that resulted in just a leg bye.
As Tewatia scrambled to the non-striker’s end, he appeared to mutter something under his breath—a remark that visibly irked Bumrah. The usually unflappable MI bowler, who has spearheaded India’s pace attack with a staggering over 150 IPL wickets in his career, was picked up by the stump mic snapping, “Mereko mat bol (Don’t say it to me)”, his tone laced with frustration. Caught off guard, Tewatia quickly attempted to defuse the situation, clarifying, “Main tereko nahi bol raha hoon, main khud ko bol raha (I wasn’t talking to you, I was saying it to myself)”.
Thankfully, the tense moment didn’t escalate further. Bumrah, maintaining his trademark composure, returned to his bowling mark, while Tewatia refocused on the uphill task at hand. Despite the brief flare-up, the incident underscored the high stakes and emotions of knockout cricket, where even teammates from the national side—both players have represented India in T20Is—can find themselves on edge. Bumrah finished the over with clinical precision, conceding only 8 runs in the spell, while Tewatia’s fight ended soon after as GT fell short.
This clash wasn’t just a footnote in an otherwise action-packed game. It highlighted the unparalleled intensity of the IPL, where every ball can turn into a battle of egos and skills. Mumbai Indians, led by a resurgent Hardik Pandya, now head into Qualifier 2 with momentum, bolstered by a top-order blitz from Ishan Kishan, who scored a blazing 62 off 38 balls, and Bumrah’s relentless bowling. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans, despite valiant contributions from Shubman Gill with a well-made 54, will rue missed opportunities in a campaign that promised so much under new leadership.
As fans dissect every detail of this electrifying Eliminator, the Bumrah-Tewatia exchange serves as a reminder of the passion that fuels cricket at this level. With Qualifier 2 looming, all eyes will be on whether MI can carry this intensity forward or if Punjab Kings, armed with their explosive batting lineup, will have the last laugh in the race to the IPL 2025 final.