New Chandigarh: Rohit Sharma smashed a quickfire half-century after Jonny Bairstow made instant impact on his debut, as Mumbai Indians overpowered Gujarat Titans by 20 runs in the IPL 2025 Eliminator match in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Friday. Rohit slammed 81 from 50 balls after Bairstow hit 47 from 22 balls to power MI to a daunting 228/5 against a sloppy Gujarat Titans. Sai Sudharsan led Titans' brave reply as he hit a magnificent 80 from 49 balls, while Washington Sundar scored a quickfire 48 from 24 balls but they finished well short on 208/6 in the run chase. MI will take on Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 2 match -- a virtual semi-final match in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with the winner progressing to the IPL 2025 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians made most of batting first as they got off to an aggressive start courtesy of Rohit and Bairstow.
Titans dropped three crucial catches -- two of Rohit, who made most as he stroked 81 off 50, and one of Suryakumar Yadav (33 off 20) – while coming up with another ordinary effort with the ball in the knockout fixture.
Bairstow, who came in as the replacement for Ryan Rickelton, went after the GT bowlers in the Powerplay as he smashed 47 off 22 to give MI the momentum in the early overs. The out-of-favour England batter, who joined the mighty MI days after collecting back-to-back fifties in county cricket for Yorkshire, took his chances early on and was well rewarded.
He targeted Titans' best pacer of the season, Prasidh Krishna, plundering him for 26 runs in the fourth over of the innings that included three sixes.
Rohit too got into the act when spinner Sai Kishore was introduced inside the Powerplay. The former captain employed the sweep shot to perfection to collect two fours and a massive six to take his team to 79 for no loss in six overs -- MI's best Powerplay score of the season.
Skipper Hardik Pandya (22) hammered Coetzee for three maximums in the final over as MI reached the total of 228/5. Brief scores:Mumbai Indians 228/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 81, Jonny Bairstow 47, Suryakumar Yadav 33; Sai Kishore 2-42, Prasidh Krishna 2-53) beat Gujarat Titans 208/6 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 80, Washington Sundar 48, Boult 2/56, Bumrah 2/27). (Agencies)
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