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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Punjab Kings' hopes rest on Shreyas Iyer as Mumbai Indians hold advantage in qualifier 2
Thursday's Qualifier 1 shellacking at the hands of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru has deprived Shreyas Iyer's men of the gloss of their league-stage topping effort, the cohesive lustre partially flayed by one colossal batting failure. 'The war' wasn't lost, to quote Iyer, but Punjab Kings have ceded all built-up momentum in a savage loop since edging Monday's top-two shootout over the Mumbai Indians and the subsequent RCB pounding. When Punjab have their second swing at that elusive final on Sunday, Ahmedabad will ring 'advantage MI' after the five-time champions ousted the venue's traditional hosts, Gujarat Titans, in a fiercely engrossing eliminator fixture. The night's grind will somewhat help Hardik Pandya's men tide over the fact of dealing with a longer course to a potential seventh final. MI will be well past the Punjab slip-up and any discussions of their demoralising March visit to the ground – a 36-run loss to the Titans chasing 197 – would be off the table. Those early weeks of the season will be the ones openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh would love to jog back to. Punjab's uncapped combo has whipped up more than 900 runs between them, aggregating nearly 10 runs per over for their opening stand. However, runs have been hard to come by since a return to action after a fortnight's break. While Prabhsimran hasn't crossed the 30-run mark since a sparkling 91 early in May, Arya has touched double-digits only once in five innings, incidentally a stroke-filled 62 against MI, wedged between a string of early dismissals. Next stop: Qualifier 2️⃣ 😍@mipaltan are all set to meet the @PunjabKingsIPL for a ticket to glory 🎟 Scorecard ▶ | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025 It is the unlikely hit of this fledgling and combustible union, alongside captain Iyer, that has powered Punjab's remodelled engine room this season. But when the trio topple the disposition with their impetuous shotmaking as they did against RCB over in Mullanpur, the recklessness can leave a fallible middle-order gasping when confronting an MI roster studded with match-winners hardened by play-offs pressure. As much as Prabhsimran and Arya await the biggest hurdles yet of their respective T20 careers against Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult up front, Punjab's collective temper and approach to a high-stakes encounter will rest on the mettle of Iyer's control with the bat. Wafting aimlessly in the face of his biggest nemesis, Josh Hazlewood, Iyer shifted the Punjab dugout from shaken to shellshocked within four balls. The contest with the bowler who had dismissed him thrice before ended with Iyer's head-to-head average slipping to an abysmal 2.75 across 22 balls against the metronomic Aussie. There isn't a discernibly startling kryptonite awaiting him in the forthcoming game, but Iyer will have to brace for an early test as Bumrah and Boult sharpen their angles to nip the openers out cheaply. Despite smearing attacks with his renewed T20 striking to notch up 516 runs at 170.86 this year, Iyer will be mindful of the gears after realising the meek resistance behind him in the latest collapse. The tumble from 38/3 to 60/7 saw the complete unravelling of the middle-order, with Aussies Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis and the death-overs-coded Shashank Singh failing to serve a riposte. D-day duress could be a little beyond Nehal Wadhera just yet. It certainly was past a young Musheer Khan, sent out to save a panicky dressing room in the heat of the situation on his T20 debut, only to have the 20-year-old Mumbaikar trudge back with a three-ball duck batting at No. 8. While their batting plans are susceptible to such stark extremes, Punjab's margin for errors with the ball has also seen unpleasant movement with Marco Jansen flying out for international duties and Yuzvendra Chahal injured. While the veteran leggie could be in the mix for a return, the tall Jansen's middle-overs absence could be felt in a phase where MI have surprisingly floated behind a fiercer band of teams, averaging 9.03 runs per over. The shorter lengths could also play into the hands of MI's freshly prepared play-off strengths in the top order. If Jonny Bairstow and Rohit Sharma boss the Powerplay as they did against GT, the banged-in deliveries may not be a fancy option for the seamers. Iyer fiddled through his bowling artillery consistently to leave MI '10-15 short' the last time. But a Bairstow reinforcement, Rohit's chunky returns, crunchy cameos from Tilak Varma and Hardik, and the unmissable Suryakumar Yadav have reset Mumbai's momentum. The devious alternate path to the final isn't entirely new to Iyer's system. Having led the Delhi Capitals through a similar course to the final against Mumbai five years ago, the now 30-year-old knows what it takes to mount a comeback. A waltz to the title with the Kolkata Knight Riders last year may not have needed the batter and the captain locked and loaded every minute. But in the here and now, Iyer's verve and versatility manifest in all action and conscience of the play-off rookies, Punjab. Lalith Kalidas is a Senior Sub-Editor with the sports team of The Indian Express. Working with the online sports desk, Lalith specializes in the happenings on the cricket field, with a particular interest in India's domestic cricket circle. He also carries an affinity towards data-driven stories and often weaves them into cricketing contexts through his analysis. Lalith also writes the weekly stats-based cricket column - 'Stats Corner'. A former cricketer who has played in state-level tournaments in Kerala, he has over three years of experience as a sports journalist. Lalith also covered the 2023 ODI World Cup held in India. ... Read More
India.com
4 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
Ball Of The Century? Jasprit Bumrahs Yorker Against Washington Sundar Leaves Fans Awestruck, Video Goes Viral
The IPL 2025 Eliminator was billed as a clash of titans, and it delivered a 428-run epic. But amid all the chaos, one man brought ruthless clarity — Jasprit Bumrah. His searing yorker to Washington Sundar in the 14th over was more than just a wicket; it was the turning point that turned a tight chase into a procession for the Mumbai Indians. Bumrah's spell of 4-0-27-2 in a match where nearly 22 runs were scored per over at one stage was, simply put, unreal. While the rest of the bowlers wore the scars of the onslaught, Bumrah walked off the field with clean whites — and another match-winning performance to his name. Two moments of brilliance Were these two the defining moments of the #Eliminator? Scorecard | #GTvMI | #TheLastMile | @mipaltan — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025 Choosing to bat first on what had proven to be a tricky surface just 24 hours ago, Mumbai Indians made a bold call — and backed it with an imposing total of 228 for 6. Skipper Hardik Pandya trusted the strip, and his batters did the rest. Rohit Sharma, playing his most fluent knock of the season, top-scored with 81 off 50 balls, peppering the off-side with classical cuts and pulls. Jonny Bairstow's cameo added firepower, while Suryakumar Yadav and Pandya provided stability. Their power-packed innings pushed Gujarat Titans on the back foot even before the chase began. Gujarat Titans Fight Back Through Sudharsan and Sundar Even after losing captain Shubman Gill early, Gujarat Titans showed fight. Sai Sudharsan (80) was at his elegant best, maneuvering gaps and mixing calm with carnage. Washington Sundar, promoted to No. 4, unleashed clean, calculated hitting during a quickfire 84-run partnership off just 44 balls. At 148 for 2 in 13 overs, GT were in pole position. Mumbai's lead was shrinking rapidly — until Bumrah returned to tilt the scales. Bumrah's Yorker: The Moment the Game Changed With the match slipping, Hardik turned to his most trusted weapon. On came Jasprit Bumrah, and with surgical precision, he applied the brakes. Then came the fourth ball of his over — a 142 kph toe-crusher that Sundar had no answer for. The stumps shattered, and with it, Gujarat's composure. Former India batter Robin Uthappa called it "the game-changing moment," and rightly so. From there, the Titans crumbled. Sai Sudharsan departed soon after, and the middle order — Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia — couldn't stitch together anything significant. Bumrah returned in the 17th over to put the final nail in the coffin, conceding just nine runs when Gujarat needed 45 from 18. Bumrah's Brilliance: A Pattern, Not a Coincidence This wasn't an outlier. Jasprit Bumrah in IPL 2025 has been a cheat code. In 11 matches, he has picked up 18 wickets at an economy of 6.36, in a tournament where 200+ scores have become routine. Veteran quick Ian Bishop recently said, 'Bumrah thinks deeply, he knows when to hunt stumps, when to bowl wide yorkers. It's not just the pace — it's his understanding of rhythm and timing.' Even AB de Villiers echoed a fan's sentiment during commentary: 'The game isn't over until Bumrah is done.' Gujarat's win probability dropped from 42% to 23% after that one over. That's impact.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
All not well between Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya? Fans sense tension during GT vs MI clash
A moment during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Eliminator between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI) has triggered speculation about tension between India's cricket stars — Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. The incident took place during the toss, when cameras caught Gill seemingly ignoring a handshake from Hardik after MI opted to bat first. Following this, Pandya's aggressive celebration after dismissing Gill for just 1 run in the first over added fuel to the fire. Although another video later showed the two exchanging brief congratulations, the initial clip was enough to get fans talking — with many questioning whether all is well between the former GT teammates. The video has since gone viral across various social media platforms, including X (formerly known as Twitter) and Reddit. 🚨 Toss 🚨@mipaltan won the toss and elected to bat first against @gujarat_titans Updates ▶️ #TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile Old allies, new equations Gill and Pandya were key pillars in Gujarat Titans' inaugural title-winning campaign in 2022. Hardik was the captain and Gill, then an emerging star, played a crucial role. The following season, Gill enjoyed a record-breaking run, scoring 890 runs under Hardik's leadership. However, things changed in 2024 when Hardik made a switch and returned to MI. This paved the way for Gill to take over the captaincy at GT. While both players have remained professional in public, this encounter hinted that there may be an underlying friction, with fans debating whether this was simply Playoff pressure or a deeper fallout. What happened in the GT vs MI Eliminator? The match saw MI outplay GT by 20 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Rohit Sharma's explosive 81 off 50 and a finishing cameo from Hardik (22* off 9), helped MI post 228/5 — the second-highest total in IPL playoff history. 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 ✌️@mipaltan have their eyes set on the big prize 👀🏆Watch the Match Highlights ▶ | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile GT's chase faltered early with Gill's dismissal and questions arising with no Jos Buttler in the side. However, Sai Sudharsan fought back with a brilliant 80 off 49. Kusal Mendis and Washington Sundar also contributed, but Jasprit Bumrah's tight spell (1/27 in 4 overs) and Ashwani Kumar's tidy finish (1/28 in 3.3) helped MI progress to the Qualifier 2. With this win, Mumbai Indians will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a spot in the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
India Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Jasprit Bumrah like Mumbai housing prices, a luxury to have: Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya heaped rich praise on Jasprit Bumrah, calling the ace pacer a priceless asset after Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Titans by 20 runs in the IPL 2025 Eliminator on Friday. The MI captain said having Bumrah fit and firing at the business end of the tournament was nothing short of a a high-scoring contest that produced 448 runs across 40 overs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Bumrah stood out once again with a miserly spell, conceding just 27 runs from his four overs. Against a quality Gujarat Titans batting unit, Bumrah was once again MI's trump card - delivering at the exact moment his captain needed him like Mumbai housing prices - he's that expensive," Hardik quipped at the post-match presentation. "When you have that, it's a luxury. I was just watching the scoreboard and I thought if we can save a few runs for the end, I had the bowlers to defend it. It was important that Jassi came in and bowled that over to widen the margin," he added, explaining how Bumrah was strategically deployed. Hardik admitted it wasn't complicated to captain a bowler of Bumrah's calibre, joking that it's simply a matter of summoning him when things begin to go awry."It's very simple. It's not difficult at all. Whenever you think the game is going away, just bring him," Hardik said with a moments of brillianceWere these two the defining moments of the #Eliminator?Scorecard | #GTvMI | #TheLastMile | @mipaltan IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025advertisementDespite MI posting a daunting 228, the chase was far from over at the halfway mark. Sai Sudharsan, who became the youngest batter to score 700 runs in an IPL season, was in sensational touch. Alongside Washington Sundar, the duo stitched together an 84-run stand off just 44 deliveries, taking Gujarat to 148 for 2 in 13 overs - and into striking the match slipping away, Hardik turned to his most trusted weapon. Bumrah answered with what many are calling the ball of the tournament - an unplayable toe-crushing yorker that castled Washington Sundar and halted Gujarat's momentum. Soon after, Sudharsan perished for a valiant 80, and with the required rate climbing, Gujarat's chase fizzled 14th over cost only four runs, and he returned to deliver another gem in the 18th - conceding just nine. The death-overs trio of Bumrah, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar and Richard Gleeson closed out the match clinically, giving Mumbai a comfortable win in the now has 18 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of just 6.36 - a scarcely believable return in a season dominated by AND RO IMPRESS HARDIK Hardik also lauded Mumbai's opening pair, particularly Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow, for setting the tone with the bat. Rohit smashed a fluent 81 off 50 balls to claim the Player of the Match award, while Bairstow, playing his first game of the season, lit up the powerplay with a 22-ball way Jonny batted for him to make his debut for us - it's a special franchise - and play the way he did, that was special," Hardik said. "And Ro the way he batted. He took his time, and once he got into rhythm, it was beautiful to watch."Mumbai Indians now head to Ahmedabad again, where they will face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 on Sunday for a place in the IPL 2025 Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Jasprit Bumrah's moment of magic uproots Gujarat Titans as Rohit Sharma props Mumbai Indians to ensure 20 runs win
Mumbai Indians hold their nerve to stop a spirited comeback from Gujarat Titans to set up Qualifier II date with Punjab Kings Having made 228/5 on the back of Rohit Sharma's 81, if Mumbai Indians thought they had the game in their bag at the half-way stage, they got a rude awakening. In an 84-run stand off 44 balls, B Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar not only put Mumbai under pressure, but were setting up for a grand finish when Jasprit Bumrah decided to have one final say. With 78 needed off 39 with 8 wickets in hand, Bumrah came up with a yorker for the ages that took out Washington and the leg-stump as Mumbai drilled through that opening to wrap up the contest by 20 runs. For a team that has put up the best batting show this IPL, they needed to bring out their A-game with the bat to stay alive. Chasing 229, odds were against Gujarat as Mumbai have never lost a game in 17 instances of defending a total of 200 and above. Gujarat also had to do it without Jos Buttler against an attack that includes Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah. And as has been the case throughout this season, Gujarat have found ways to score with their top-order doing the bulk of the scoring. Since the IPL resumption, they have come across as a side struggling for momentum with the top-order unable to continue the job they began with aplomb. And after Boult took out Shubman Gill, if one thought the fizz would disappear soon, then B Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar showed Gujarat won't go away without a fight. Their 84 run partnership for the third wicket that came off just 44 deliveries left Mumbai searching for answers. At the half-way mark, the five-time champions think-tank including head coach Mahela Jayawardene, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, were all lined-up beside the boundary hoardings making animated gestures as all their well-laid plans were being dismantled in the most textbook way by Sai Sudharsan and Washington. Two moments of brilliance ⚡️ Were these two the defining moments of the #Eliminator? 🤔 Scorecard ▶ | #GTvMI | #TheLastMile | @mipaltan — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025 After the early loss of Gill, it was Sudharsan who brought Gujarat back with an effortless six off Boult before unleashing shots either side of square that sped to the boundary on an outfield that was soaked in dew. And before Washington joined the southpaw, Kusal Mendis, replacing Buttler, played a cameo of 20 as Gujarat once again got the start they needed. From there on till Bumrah produced a moment of brilliance in the fourth ball of the 14th over, it was all about Sai Sudharsan and Washington as none from the Mumbai attack was spared. Bumrah was whipped and pulled for boundaries by Sudharsan while Washington pulled and swat Boult for a couple of sixes. In between those, the two left-handers played with the field, picking gaps with perfection to ensure the asking rate stayed in control as at the end of the 13th over, Gujarat were ahead of Mumbai. That's when Bumrah produced the ball of the match. With the game in balance, he went back to his armoury, picked up the most lethal yorker he had in his shelf and executed it with precision that Washington missed it totally and tumbled flat on the turf. That gave Mumbai the opening before Richard Gleeson removed Sai Sudharsan two overs later. And from there on, Gujarat lost their way to fall short by 20 runs. This has been a season where Rohit Sharma has started slowly before finding his groove. His knock on Friday mirrored the trend, where after being given two lives – by Gerald Coetzee and Kusal Mendis – early on before he crossed 13, Rohit exploded to take the game away from Gujarat in no time. But before he began his fireworks, all the early damage was done by Jonny Bairstow – the replacement player for the in-form Ryan Rickelton. Having joined the team after the IPL resumed, Bairstow didn't show any signs of rustiness and instead hit the accelerator straightaway, taking on this season's stand-out pacer Prasidh Krishna. But the real change of momentum shifting completely towards Mumbai came in the fourth over where Bairstow heaved Prasidh for two sixes and two boundaries as the seaming deck that Royal Challengers Bengaluru enjoyed in the Qualifier was nowhere to be seen. Fearless 🔥 🔽 Watch Rohit Sharma's blistering knock of 81(50) 👏#TATAIPL | #GTvMI | #Eliminator | #TheLastMile | @ImRo45 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 30, 2025 Even as Rohit was getting his eye in, Bairstow was in his elements as his free-flowing batting was to the forefront here with horizontal bat shots being the stand-out. His 22-ball stay, where he scored 47 runs with 4 boundaries and 3 sixes provided the impact that Mumbai needed. Bairstow's explosive start meant, Rohit was able to pace his innings, but wasn't going to be overtly cautious. At 19 off 15 deliveries, the arrival of R Sai Kishore in the last over of the powerplay is when Rohit began to open up, with his signature sweep sending the ball soaring over deep square-leg. Two more boundaries in that over, both via sweeps meant Mumbai had 79 in the powerplay – their highest this season and by the time Bairstow departed, Rohit was now orchestrating the innings. Having slipped in a quiet first over for a change, where he conceded just two runs, Rashid Khan would have thought this was his night as he had taken just 9 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 57.11 and at a worrying economy rate of 9.34. But his form showed no signs of changing as Rohit once again relied on his sweep and inside-out shots to neutralize the Afghan. With his being a huge outfield, Rohit had only four sixes to show in his knock of 81, the 9 boundaries, though were a testament to his ability to pick the gaps to perfection. Rohit's assuring innings meant, Suryakumar Yadav arrived and went back with a breezy cameo of 33 off 20 before Tilak Varma (25 off 11) and Hardik Pandya (22 off 9) gave the finishing touches. Having put a commendable show before the IPL was suspended, it had gone downhill for Gujarat with the ball. After conceding 230, 255 and 199 in the last three matches, they ended up giving 228/5 on Friday.
