This was a night that flexed Mumbai Indians once again to his championship metal. In a record-breaking IPL eliminator in Mulanpur, both teams combined for a shocking 436 runs, the most in the playoff history-MI defeated Gujarat’s Titans by 20 runs and marched in qualifier 2. While the scoreboard was lit with sixes and boundaries, it was the ability to win the moments of Mumbai’s clutch that stood outside. Skipper Hardik Pandya, facing his former franchise in a high pressure knockout, was full of praise for his team’s nature and time. Pandya said after the victory, “At one time the game was also Stevens.” “I felt that the wicket got better in the second innings. It started coming well, they came to the rhythm and we realized that we needed to catch our veins and return our boys.” He sang Johnny Bairstow’s explosive debut Nock and Rohit Sharma’s 81 as the judge. “The way Johnny batted and started … It is a special franchise for us, it’s a special franchise, the way he played and the way he played. Roe batted – he took his time and once when he got into the rhythm, it was beautiful.” Pandya also praised his bowling unit, especially Richard Glison’s clinical mantra in the final of Richard Glison and the clinical mantra of Jasprit Bumrah. “The way Glison bowled. Jassi is going to Jassi. Ashwani … everyone clung well and we caught our veins. I liked the couple more (big hits). Helps a little margin. We wanted to push into batting and I think we were able to do so.” Asked that when he decides to bowl to Bumrah, Pandya smiled: “It’s very simple. Whenever you feel that the game is going away, just bring it. Just bring it. When you have a luxury. It’s like the prices of Mumbai’s housing – he is expensive.” The last overs were tense, but Pandya planned it. “I was just watching the scoreboard and I thought if we could last an additional runs, I had to bowl bowls. It was important that Jassi comes and bowling that the margin becomes longer (18th over). It is very important to recover well. Looking forward to the next game.” With this win, Mumbai Indians set up a qualifier 2 struggle against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on 1 June. The winning IPL 2025 will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.
