In the 9th match of the 2025 IPL season, Hardik Pandya faced his former team, Gujarat Titans, with whom he won the trophy in 2022. Many expected it to be a nostalgic moment for fans, but it turned into a tense encounter when Pandya and GT’s Sai Kishore had a heated exchange.
MI was in a tough spot when Pandya came out to bat, with 81 runs needed from 32 balls. Sai Kishore had the ball in hand, and as MI played it toward him, he attempted to throw it back at Pandya to catch him off guard. But that wasn’t all—Kishore also shot a sharp, intense look at his former teammate.
Pandya didn’t take it lightly and charged toward Kishore, ready for a confrontation. Just as tensions escalated, the umpire stepped in to diffuse the situation. In this brief rivalry, Sai Kishore had the last laugh as the Titans secured their fourth win against MI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
HP struggled throughout his innings, unable to read the variations. His timing was off, and he couldn’t connect the ball well. The MI captain got out to Kagiso Rabada after scoring just 11 runs from 17 balls. He’ll want to forget this innings and focus on the next match. On the other hand, Sai had a decent game, conceding 37 runs in his over and taking the wicket of Robin Minz.
Sai Kishore and Hardik Pandya shared a nice moment after the match
Despite their heated exchange on the field, there were no hard feelings. After the match, they shared a hug, and Hardik Pandya even congratulated Sai Kishore on the win. The GT spinner also had kind words for his former captain.
In the post-match presentation, Sai was asked about his heated moment with Pandya. He said that Hardik was a good friend and they didn’t take it personally. The 28-year-old kept it professional and emphasized that, as competitors, that’s how it should be on the field.
Looking ahead to their next matches, Gujarat Titans will face an in-form RCB, while MI will aim for their first win against reigning champions KKR. The three-time finalists, GT, look like the biggest threat in IPL 2025, having comfortably defeated KKR and CSK.