Image: Gujarat Titans win thriller as Shubman Gill shines and Bumrah impresses / © The Indian Express
One of the most interesting and tightly contested matches of IPL 2025 took place on May 6 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, as the Mumbai Indians (MI) hosted Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 56th fixture of the tournament and the encounter had all the ingredients of a classic T20 thriller like early wickets, middle-order collapses, key player performances, rain interruptions, DLS drama, and a nerve-wracking last-ball finish and ultimately, Gujarat Titans emerged victorious, chasing down a revised target of 147 in 19 overs and sealing the match by three wickets with no deliveries remaining.
After losing the toss and being put into bat first, Mumbai Indians struggled to get off to a solid start as their innings began with the early dismissal of Ryan Rickelton, who was out for just 2 runs in the very first over, caught by Sai Sudharsan off Mohammed Siraj and Rohit Sharma soon followed in the fourth over, managing only 7 runs before falling to Arshad Khan as however, Will Jacks and Suryakumar Yadav provided the much-needed momentum with a solid partnership a Jacks showcased his striking abilities with a brisk 53 off 35 balls, laced with 5 fours and 3 sixes, while Suryakumar added 35 off 24 deliveries at a healthy strike rate of 145.8 as their 71-run stand took MI to 97/2 by the 11th over, and it looked like the hosts were on course for a score well above 170.
The things didn’t go well as GT’s spinners Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan applied the brakes as Rashid dismissed Jacks, while Kishore sent back both Suryakumar and Hardik Pandya, who could only manage 1 run and this triggered a middle-order collapse, with MI losing 6 wickets for just 58 runs in the final 9.3 overs as Corbin Bosch tried to hold the innings together with a gritty 27 off 22, including a six and a four, before being run out near the end. Deepak Chahar contributed a handy 8* down the order, taking MI to a final total of 155/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
From a bowling perspective, the Gujarat Titans used their bowling resources smartly. Rashid Khan was especially economical, taking 1 for 21 in his 4 overs, while Sai Kishore claimed 2 wickets for 34. Coetzee, Arshad, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna chipped in with one wicket each. The MI batters struggled to score freely, especially in the back end of the innings, due to tight lines and variations from the GT bowlers.
Chasing a revised target of 147 in 19 overs due to a brief rain delay, Gujarat Titans got off to a nervy start. Sai Sudharsan departed early, falling for 5 runs off Trent Boult in the second over. Captain Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler then steadied the innings, building a 72-run partnership. While their scoring rate was modest, they ensured wickets were preserved, keeping GT in the chase.
Gill anchored the innings with a captain’s knock, scoring 43 off 46 balls, including 3 boundaries and a six. His calculated approach kept the scoreboard ticking even as MI bowlers operated with discipline. Buttler, who struck 30 off 27 balls, played a key role before falling to debutant Ashwani Kumar, who came in as a concussion substitute for Corbin Bosch.
Sherfane Rutherford’s aggressive cameo of 28 off just 15 balls injected fresh momentum into GT’s chase. His powerful hitting, 2 fours and 2 sixes which briefly tilted the game in GT’s favour. However, MI fought back through Jasprit Bumrah and Boult, both of whom struck twice and bowled with sharp accuracy. Ashwani Kumar, stepping up impressively in his first outing, took two crucial wickets, including that of Rashid Khan, as GT slipped from 113/2 to 132/6. Gerald Coetzee provided a crucial boost with a 12-run blitz off 6 balls, but his dismissal in the penultimate over left the match on a knife’s edge.
Rahul Tewatia held his nerve, scoring 11* off 8 balls, and Arshad Khan finished the game with a single off the final ball, ensuring Gujarat Titans reached 147/7 exactly with no balls to spare. On the bowling front for MI, Bumrah was again the standout performer with figures of 2 for 19 in his 4 overs, while Boult matched his effort with 2 for 22. Ashwani Kumar’s debut figures of 2 for 28 were equally impressive. However, Hardik Pandya had a poor day with the ball, conceding 18 runs in his only over as MI’s bowlers did well to keep things close, but GT edged ahead in the key moments. Gill was named Player of the Match for his composed innings and excellent fielding, taking three important catches.
With this victory, Gujarat Titans climbed to the top of the points table with 16 points from 11 matches and a healthy net run rate (NRR) of +0.793. They are now tied on points with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but ahead on NRR and Mumbai Indians, despite the loss, are still in contention with 14 points from 12 games and a solid NRR of +1.156, which could prove critical in the playoff race.
The playoff qualification race remains intense. PBKS are at 15 points, while DC, KKR, and LSG are also lurking just behind. MI will need to win their remaining matches and hope for favourable results elsewhere to secure a top-four finish.
In the game, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game came out in the 12th over, just when Gujarat Titans were cruising along comfortably in their run chase. Jos Buttler, who had looked settled at the crease, was batting on 30 from 26 balls and was forming a steady partnership. The momentum seemed to be on Gujarat’s side, especially after Tilak Varma had dropped Shubman Gill just one ball earlier, a miss that looked costly at the time. However, the very next delivery turned the tide. Ashwani Kumar, bowling with good rhythm, delivered a ball on a length outside off stump, angling away.
Buttler backed away and went for a flashy cut shot. There was a noise as the ball passed the bat, and wicketkeeper Rickelton immediately appealed. The umpire, however, was unmoved. Mumbai Indians didn’t hesitate and went straight for the review. The decision proved to be golden. UltraEdge showed a clear spike right when the ball was next to the bat, confirming a faint under-edge. The crowd erupted as the big screen flashed OUT. Buttler had to walk back for 30 runs, and Mumbai Indians found the breakthrough they were desperately looking for.
When the match looked over and done for the Gujarat Titans, it was the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Gerald Coetzee, who turned the game around with his all-round brilliance. With Mumbai Indians posting 155/8, GT needed a strong chase, but rain and tight bowling made it tense. Coetzee, however, stepped up when it mattered most. First, with the ball, he took the crucial wicket of Tilak Varma, breaking a dangerous partnership and finishing with tidy figures of 1/10 in 2 overs. His disciplined bowling kept MI’s middle order in check as but his real impact came with the bat.
Chasing a revised target of 147 in 19 overs, GT was struggling at 126/6 when Coetzee walked in. With just 21 needed off 10 balls, he smashed 12 runs off just 6 deliveries, including a six and a four, shifting the momentum back to GT as his fearless hitting under pressure sealed the win in the final over. Coetzee’s clutch performance, both with ball and bat, proved why he was the match-winner as his calmness in crunch moments and explosive finish handed GT a thrilling 3-wicket victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive.