When Shubman Gill’s Century Knocked Mumbai Indians Out of the IPL 2023

In this intense game, Shubman Gill, known as the Prince of Indian cricket, stepped up and played a brilliant century. His 129 runs off just 60 balls helped Gujarat Titans reach the IPL finals for the second time. Gill showed why he is one of the best players in the world, especially under pressure. His amazing innings made all the difference, and Gujarat Titans moved ahead while Mumbai Indians were knocked out.

Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians: IPL 2023 Qualifier-2

The night of May 26, 2023, at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium was electric, with Gujarat Titans facing Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2023 Qualifier 2. After a gut-wrenching loss to Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1, GT were hungry for redemption, playing on their home turf. Rain loomed large, with covers on and off and the toss delayed, but the skies cleared, and GT made the most of their second shot at the final. What unfolded was a masterclass from Shubman Gill, whose breathtaking 129 off 60 balls powered GT to a mammoth 233/3, setting a daunting target for MI. Despite a valiant fight from Mumbai’s batters, led by Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, GT’s bowlers, spearheaded by Mohit Sharma’s sensational 5/10, sealed a commanding 62-run victory, booking a final rematch with CSK.

GT’s innings kicked off under cloudy skies, with Mumbai’s Jason Behrendorff bowling a tight first over, giving away just three runs. Wriddhiman Saha and Gill played cautiously against the early swing, navigating the tacky pitch to reach 20/0 by the third over. The powerplay exploded in the fifth when Chris Jordan got taken for 12 runs, including Gill’s first six—a short-arm jab over square leg that screamed intent. By the sixth over, GT were 50/0, but Piyush Chawla broke through in the seventh, stumping Saha for 18 off 16, thanks to sharp glove work from Ishan Kishan. Enter B Sai Sudharsan, and the game shifted gears. By the ninth over, GT were 80/1, with Gill on 48 off 30, his eyes set on something big.

OTD in 2023,

– Shubman Gill became the youngest ever to score a century in the IPL Playoffs, he made 129 off 60 with 7 fours and 10 sixes against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2.

– 129 runs & 10 sixes still remain the highest individual score and most sixes in IPL Playoffs.💙🔥 pic.twitter.com/9jql8Nigz7

— Naji 𝕏 (@Naji_Gill_77) May 26, 2024

Gill was a man possessed in the middle overs, transforming into a T20 beast. In the 11th over, he smashed three sixes off Akash Madhwal, racing to 79 off 42. His third IPL 2023 century came off 49 balls in the 14th over, capped with a monstrous 106-meter six off Chawla. A dropped catch by Tim David when Gill was on 30 proved a game-changer—later estimated to have cost MI 99 runs off 40 balls. Gill’s 215 strike rate, with 10 sixes and seven fours, showcased his evolution from a promising talent to a T20 superstar. He targeted the shorter boundary with surgical precision, mixing wristy flicks, lofted cover drives, and audacious aerial shots to keep MI’s bowlers on their heels.

Sudharsan played the perfect foil, scoring a composed 43 off 31, with five fours and a six. His clever scoop shots and a deft four over short fine leg in the 17th over kept GT’s momentum rolling. In a tactical move, GT retired Sudharsan out in the 19th over to bring in Rashid Khan, who smashed a first-ball four off Jordan. Hardik Pandya, unbeaten on 28 off 13 with two fours and two sixes, provided the final flourish, launching a six over extra-cover in the last over.

MI’s bowlers struggled to contain GT’s onslaught. Jordan was the most expensive, leaking 56 runs in four overs, while Madhwal’s 4-0-52-1 included two no-balls, one a beamer. Behrendorff was the pick of the lot with 4-0-28-0, but GT’s 233/3 — their highest score of the season — was a mountain to climb, powered by 19 boundaries (fours and sixes combined) on a pitch that eased out after the early swing.

Mumbai Indians, known for chasing big totals, faced a massive task at 234. Early blows, injuries, and GT’s fiery bowling attack made it a steep climb, and MI eventually crumbled to 171 in 18.2 overs. The chase started on a shaky note when Ishan Kishan was ruled out with a concussion after an accidental elbow from Jordan, forcing Nehal Wadhera to open with Rohit Sharma. Mohammed Shami struck in the first over, dismissing Wadhera for 4 off 3, caught behind off a mistimed pull. Hardik Pandya’s fiery spell saw Cameron Green retire hurt for 4 off 3 after a 146kph ball struck his forearm, leaving MI wobbling. Rohit’s 8 off 7 ended in the third over, caught by Josh Little off Shami, with MI at 29/2.

Tilak Varma sparked hope with a blistering 43 off 14, smashing five fours and three sixes at a jaw-dropping 307.14 strike rate. His 24-run fifth over off Shami, with four boundaries and a 92-meter six, pushed MI to 65/2, keeping the chase alive. But Rashid Khan, despite leaking 33 runs in his four overs, landed a massive blow in the sixth, clean-bowling Tilak to break a dangerous 50-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav.

Green, back with his forearm taped, joined Suryakumar for a spirited 67-run partnership. Suryakumar was a joy to watch, scoring 61 off 38 with seven fours and two sixes. His elegant inside-out shots and a stunning scoop for six off Josh Little lit up Ahmedabad. Green chipped in with 30 off 20, including a monstrous 88-meter six off Noor Ahmad.

At 123/3 after 11 overs, MI were 25 runs ahead of GT’s scoring rate, but the tide turned quickly. Josh Little dismissed Green in the 12th, and then came Mohit Sharma’s game-changing 14th over. His deceptive back-of-hand slower balls were pure magic, snaring Suryakumar and Vishnu Vinod (5 off 7) in quick succession. Mohit wasn’t done — he trapped Tim David (2 off 3) lbw and bowled Piyush Chawla (0 off 2), claiming four wickets in just seven balls. MI were reeling at 161/7 by the 16th over, needing 73 runs off 24 balls, an almost impossible task.

Shubman Gill won the Player of the match in Qualifier 2.

A Star in making. pic.twitter.com/0TSOONaP8U

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 26, 2023

Mohit sealed MI’s fate in the 18th over when David Miller caught Kumar Kartikeya (6 off 7) at long-on, wrapping up Mohit’s sensational 5/10. MI folded for 171, a 62-run defeat. GT’s bowlers were relentless—Shami’s 2/41, Rashid’s 2/33, Little’s 1/26, and Noor Ahmad’s tidy 0/35 backed Mohit’s heroics. Despite Tilak’s fiery 43 and Suryakumar’s classy 61, MI’s early losses, including Kishan’s concussion, derailed their chase. Rohit Sharma admitted MI were “20-25 runs short” and struggled to find rhythm early on, while Hardik Pandya hailed Gill’s “superstar” 129 as the game’s defining moment.

Gill’s brilliance and Mohit’s masterclass propelled GT to a dominant victory, setting up a blockbuster IPL 2023 final rematch with CSK. For GT, it was a chance to claim a historic second title. Ahmedabad roared as GT marched on, leaving MI to think about the missed chances and a chase that slipped away.