Record Indian Premier League champions MI pulled off one of the most stunning victories in this edition of the tournament, one in which they have largely endured a disappointing season, managing to register just their second win of the season.
Mumbai will be especially happy with Rohit Sharma’s return to form. The skipper batted beautifully at the beginning of the innings. Despite Gujarat batting brilliantly in the first half of their innings, MI were able to pull off one of the most outrageous heists, with Daniel Sams conceding just three runs off the last over, defending just nine runs. The Titans fell short by five runs but retained their position at the top of the points table.
Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss against his former franchise and decided to bowl first, something that has worked well for his side throughout the course of the tournament. Mumbai, however, started off beautifully, as both openers were in great touch, a source of great relief for the Indians going forward. Rohit was particularly brilliant, smashing veteran Mohammed Shami all over the park. Sharma and Ishan Kishan added 74 for the opening wicket in no time, before a failed attempt at a reverse sweep of Rashid Khan spelt the end for the Indian captain.
Kishan also shortly departed after an entertaining 45, as Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal split the fall of the two openers. After a brilliant start, the Mumbai innings was slowly starting to slow down, with Kieron Pollard struggling against the opposition bowlers, eventually falling for a 14-ball 4. Pollard’s innings perhaps cost the Indians a fair share of runs, but all-rounder Tim David tried his best to make up for it, with a 21-ball 44, to give Mumbai the momentum towards the end, finishing on 177/6.
Gujarat, in pursuit of 178, began extremely well, with Wriddhiman Saha taking the attacking route from the very beginning. The Bengal man thrashed ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah during his opening spell, giving Gujarat a solid start, while also allowing his opening partner Shubman Gill to settle in.
After getting set, Gill also took the Mumbai bowlers apart. The duo brought up a century partnership, before both openers fell in quick succession, as the Indians slowly tried to make a comeback into the game. Hardik’s quickfire cameo looked to alleviate all doubts, but the dismissal of Sai Sudharsan followed by Pandya’s wicket itself, brought the five-time champions back into the contest.
With the equation down to 20 runs required off the last two overs, Bumrah bowled a largely skillful over, but a maximum courtesy of David Miller brought the equation further down to nine runs in the final over. Sams, who was tasked with bowling the last six deliveries, did a spectacular job. The Australian used his change of pace to completely bamboozle the Titans batsmen, who were barely able to lay bat on ball, and Mumbai wrapped up a sensational five-run victory.
Brief scores
Mumbai Indians 177 for 6 (Kishan 45, David 44*, Rohit 43, Rashid 2-24) beat Gujarat Titans 172 for 5 (Saha 55, Gill 52, Ashwin 2-29) by 5 runs
