Gujarat Titans opened their account against Mumbai Indians with a comprehensive win in the 9th match of the IPL season 2025. Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to bowl first. MI had the two best possible bowlers to pick up wickets in the powerplay, but Sai Sudarshan and captain Shubman Gill demolished all their plans and won the powerplay.
The pressure from MI’s bowlers after the powerplay worked in their favor, as Hardik dismissed GT captain Shubman Gill with a short ball. However, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler kept the momentum going, scoring 63 and 39 runs, respectively. While the middle order struggled, the Titans still posted a formidable total of 197. Hardik was MI’s standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for just 29 runs in 4 overs.
Mumbai’s chase got off to a poor start as Mohammed Siraj dismissed both Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton, with the South African facing unfortunate dismissals in both matches. Despite the early setback, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav stabilized the innings, helping MI reach 100. However, Gujarat’s bowlers maintained control, while Tilak and Robin Minz struggled to make an impact.
The match was a thriller, with MI needing 80 runs from 31 balls while a set SKY and captain Hardik were at the crease. However, the momentum shifted when Prasidh Krishna dismissed Suryakumar. The former Gujarat captain had a forgettable innings, managing just 11 runs off 17 balls. Naman Dhir and Mitchell Santner hit a few late boundaries, but it wasn’t enough. GT won by 36 runs and moved to 3rd place in the points table.
Fans react to Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians’ second straight loss in the 2025 season of IPL
Based on last season’s record and this season’s start, Hardik Pandya is clearly struggling to lead Mumbai Indians. Under his captaincy, MI has won only 4 out of 15 matches. Following the five-time champions’ second consecutive loss, fans had plenty to say on social media.
One fan pointed out that MI often starts slow but picks up momentum later in the season. Another praised the Titans’ overall performance. However, many were frustrated with MI’s approach while chasing 197. Here are some of the top fan reactions:
One fan praised young captain Shubman Gill’s leadership, while another criticized MI’s decision to pick Ryan Rickelton over Will Jacks. Many also credited GT coach Ashish Nehra for his constant guidance from the boundary. Overall, fans were highly disappointed with MI’s performance, highlighting several mistakes made throughout the match.