Mumbai Indians’ winning streak came to an end in their sixth game of the IPL 2025 after Gujarat Titans edged past them in a nail-biting finish at the Wankhede Stadium. The match, heavily influenced by unpredictable weather and a pitch that offered its share of challenges, saw MI post a total of 155 for 8. Gujarat’s chase started cautiously amid swirling wind and intermittent rain, which eventually led to a revised target of 147 in 19 overs. The visitors managed to reach the mark on the final delivery, sealing the win with just three wickets remaining.
The game was far from flawless for both the sides, marked by several dropped catches, three by Gujarat and one by Mumbai, which kept the outcome in suspense till the very end. One of the notable missed chances was when Tilak Varma dropped Gujarat captain Shubman Gill on 35. Though Shubman Gill only added five more runs, in a contest decided on the last ball, even such small margins proved crucial.
Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya, however, downplayed the impact of dropped catches, instead pointing to discipline issues with the ball as the turning point. He emphasised that the no-balls bowled, one of which he delivered during an 18-run over, and another by Deepak Chahar in the final over, were significantly more damaging. Describing the no-balls as the avoidable errors, Hardik Pandya remarked that such lapses often come back to hurt the team, as they did in this match. Still, he commended his players for their determination and fighting spirit, noting that they stayed competitive until the very end.
Reflecting on the first innings, Hardik Pandya felt that MI’s batting effort fell short by a notable margin. According to him, the pitch was suitable for a total closer to 175 and the team may have underperformed by 20 to 30 runs. He praised the bowling unit for compensating by maintaining pressure and executing their plans well despite the difficult conditions.
Speaking about the effect of the weather, Hardik Pandya mentioned that the ball got progressively wetter after the first innings, creating additional challenges for the bowlers. While the repeated rain interruptions were far from ideal, he acknowledged that such disruptions are part and parcel of the game.
Do you agree with Hardik Pandya that it is no-balls that cost them the match against GT? Share your views in this regard.
