Mumbai Indians Dominate Gujarat Titans with Stellar Performance in IPL Eliminator

In a thrilling IPL Eliminator, the Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma's explosive 81 and Jonny Bairstow's impactful debut, set a daunting target of 228 runs against the Gujarat Titans. Despite the Titans' efforts, including dropped catches and lackluster bowling, the Mumbai team capitalized on their opportunities, showcasing their batting strength. With a formidable total on the board, the Titans face a significant challenge in their pursuit. Read on for a detailed breakdown of this exciting match.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 30, 2025, 21:59 IST

Mumbai Indians Set a Challenging Target

Mullanpur: Rohit Sharma showcased his batting prowess, scoring a brilliant 81 runs, while Jonny Bairstow made an impressive debut for the Mumbai Indians, leading the team to a formidable total of 228/5 against the Gujarat Titans in the IPL Eliminator held on Friday.

Choosing to bat first on a pitch with less grass than the previous day, the Mumbai Indians capitalized on their opportunity, heading into the break with a significant advantage. The Titans struggled in the field, dropping three vital catches—two of Rohit and one of Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 20)—and their bowling performance left much to be desired.

Rohit was fortunate to be dropped twice during the powerplay, with Gerald Coetzee missing a catch in the deep and Kusal Mendis fumbling a straightforward catch behind the stumps off Mohammed Siraj. Bairstow, who scored 47 runs off 22 balls, provided the initial momentum for Mumbai with his explosive hitting.

The England batter, who recently joined the Mumbai Indians after impressive performances in county cricket, seized his chances early, particularly targeting the Titans' top bowler, Prasidh Krishna, and scoring 26 runs in one over, including three sixes.

Rohit also found his rhythm, effectively using the sweep shot against spinner Sai Kishore, hitting two fours and a six, helping the team reach 79 without loss in the first six overs—their best powerplay of the season.

While many batters are cautious against Rashid Khan, Rohit took the initiative, hitting him for an aerial drive and a slog sweep for six. By the tenth over, Mumbai Indians were cruising at 113 for one.

Suryakumar's entry only added to the Titans' woes, as he welcomed Coetzee with two sixes. Tilak Varma (25 off 11) also contributed with three quick sixes before being dismissed by Siraj.

In the final over, skipper Hardik Pandya hit Coetzee for two sixes, pushing the total past 225. With Mumbai's strong bowling lineup, the Titans face a daunting challenge ahead.

This marks the third consecutive innings where the opposition has scored over 225 runs against the Titans.