Mumbai Indians Triumph Over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 Eliminator

In a thrilling IPL 2025 Eliminator, the Mumbai Indians defeated the Gujarat Titans by 20 runs, led by Rohit Sharma's impressive 81 runs. A brief moment during the toss sparked speculation about a handshake snub between Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, but subsequent footage confirmed they did shake hands. The match showcased strong performances from both teams, with MI advancing to Qualifier 2 while Gujarat's campaign concluded.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2025, 11:02 IST

Toss Incident Sparks Speculation

During the IPL 2025 Eliminator toss between the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, a brief moment caught the attention of fans online, leading to questions about a potential snub during a handshake between Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. However, a subsequent video from a different perspective has surfaced, confirming that the two players did shake hands after the toss, dispelling much of the initial confusion.

The Toss and Initial Reactions

The incident unfolded right after the coin toss favored the Mumbai Indians. Following the toss, Hardik Pandya, who had won, moved forward to announce his choice. In the widely shared footage, Gill appeared to walk away as Pandya extended his hand, prompting speculation about a possible 'ego clash' between the two stars.

Clarification from a Different Angle

The initial video quickly gained traction, leading many to speculate about the relationship between the Indian Test captain and the all-rounder. However, another clip released shortly after provided the complete context, showing both players shaking hands before heading to their respective teams. This additional footage clarified that the viral moment only captured a fleeting second of a longer interaction, thus alleviating concerns about any personal discord.

Mumbai's Dominant Performance

While the toss incident drew significant attention, it was the performance of the Mumbai Indians that ultimately determined the match's outcome. Rohit Sharma led the charge with an impressive 81 runs off 50 balls, helping MI set a formidable total of 228/5. Contributions from Jonny Bairstow, who scored 47 runs off just 22 balls, along with Suryakumar Yadav (33), Tilak Varma (25), and Hardik Pandya (22 not out) added to the fireworks.

Gujarat Titans' Strong Fight

In response, the Gujarat Titans put up a commendable fight, finishing at 208/6, just 20 runs short of victory. Sai Sudharsan was the standout performer for Gujarat, scoring a brisk 80 runs off 49 balls, while Washington Sundar contributed 48 runs off 24 balls. However, early wickets and effective death bowling from Jasprit Bumrah (1/27) and Gleeson (1/39) ensured that MI maintained their lead.

Mumbai Advances to Qualifier 2

With this victory, the Mumbai Indians move on to Qualifier 2, where they will face Punjab, marking the end of the road for the Gujarat Titans in this tournament.