Mumbai Indians capitalize while Gujarat Titans capitulate in eliminator clash

By K.R. Nayar 

It was a spectacular eliminator with Mumbai Indians marching into Qualifier 2 through a 20-run win over Gujarat Titans at Mullanpur’s Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium. Was it a match that Mumbai won, or was it a contest that saw Gujarat allowing themselves to be eliminated?

 

When two equally balanced teams battle for victory, one must ensure that the contest is made extremely tough for the opponent. Gujarat failed to do so by dropping Rohit Sharma twice. To let go off Sharma—known as the Hitman of Indian cricket—is akin to allowing themselves to be hit out of the tournament. Sharma capitalized on the chances, top-scoring with 81 runs in Mumbai’s total of 228 for 5.

 

As a result, Gujarat found themselves needing to chase a target at a required run rate of 11.40. They were well aware that doing so against an attack featuring pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult would be nearly impossible. Had Gujarat fielded better and bowled with more discipline, their opener and prolific scorer Sai Sudharsan’s spectacular knock of 80 off 49 balls—featuring 10 classy boundaries and a six—would not have gone in vain. In fact, Gujarat leads the table for the highest number of dropped catches among all teams in this edition.

 

In the end, Gujarat needed 24 runs from the last over. Again, had their pacer Gerald Coetzee not conceded 22 runs in Mumbai’s final over, they might have had a better chance. Similarly, Prasidh Krishna, who has been their strike bowler, gave away 26 runs in the fourth over, with Jonny Bairstow hitting him for 6, 4, 6, 6, and 4 during his 47-run blitz off 22 balls. The early loss of Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill for just four runs to Boult was also a huge setback.

 

Skipper Hardik Pandya's invaluable breezy  knock

This is the same venue where Punjab Kings was bowled out for 101 in the previous match. Mumbai, however, posted 228 for 5, and Gujarat responded with 208 for 6. The match produced a total of 436 runs, truly testing the batting prowess of both teams. Mumbai Indians emerged superior, with Suryakumar Yadav scoring 33 off 20 balls, Tilak Varma contributing 25 off 11, and skipper Hardik Pandya playing a breezy unbeaten knock of 22 off just nine balls. Pandya’s innings proved crucial in their 20-run win over Gujarat. 

 

Sai Sudharsan... another spectacular knock 

Gujarat chased well. In fact, Sudharsan’s innings—and his partnerships of 64 with Kusal Mendis (20) for the second wicket, and 84 with Washington Sundar (48) for the third wicket—gave Mumbai some real jitters. It was a treat to watch Sudharsan's elegant strokes, as he steered even good deliveries to the boundary with ease. Richard Gleeson bowled intelligently to clean bowl Sudharsan at a crucial moment in the game. Unlike Gujarat, Mumbai held on to the catches that came their way.

 

Jasprit Bumrah's deadly yorker that ended Washington Sundar's fighting knock of 48 

Mumbai will now take on Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 on June 1. Punjab had earlier lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in Qualifier 1, while Mumbai enters the contest buoyed by this victory. If Mumbai can replicate their dominant batting and strategic bowling, they could secure a place in the final. However, if Punjab has learned from their previous defeat and bounces back, it could be their day. An interesting contest is in the offing.