In a nail-biting IPL 2025 clash that went down to the wire, Gujarat Titans (GT) edged out Mumbai Indians (MI) by three wickets in a rain-hit thriller, thanks in part to two critical blunders on the final ball by Hardik Pandya and Deepak Chahar. The dramatic final over saw GT secure a must-win victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive and propelling them to the top of the points table.
How It All Unfolded
The match, played on Tuesday, had already been impacted by two rain interruptions and was being decided under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The final over began with Gujarat needing 15 runs from six balls to reach a revised target of 147 in 19 overs.
With Rahul Tewatia and Gerald Coetzee at the crease, pressure mounted quickly. Tewatia got things going with a crucial boundary off the first delivery bowled by Deepak Chahar, and Coetzee followed up with a powerful six. Adding to MI’s woes, Chahar then overstepped, handing GT a free hit and further easing their chase.
Though Chahar managed to dismiss Coetzee on the very next delivery, bringing the equation to 1 run needed off the final ball, what followed was chaos.
The Final Ball Drama
Arshad Khan, who had just come to the crease, faced the final ball and tapped it gently towards mid-off, where Hardik Pandya was perfectly positioned. With GT attempting a desperate single, Pandya swooped in and had a clear chance to effect a run-out that would have sealed victory for Mumbai.
However, Pandya’s throw was off-target, missing the stumps by a significant margin. To make matters worse, Chahar was nowhere near the stumps to collect and attempt a run-out. Suryakumar Yadav, often a sharp fielder, couldn’t get in position in time either. Replays confirmed that a direct hit would have caught Arshad short by a fair margin.
Instead, GT completed the single, triggering wild celebrations in their dugout. Shubman Gill, the Titans’ skipper, was visibly elated as the victory all but confirmed their place in the IPL 2025 playoffs.
Key Takeaways From the Match
- Gujarat Titans chased down a revised target of 147 in 19 overs, finishing with 147/7 off the very last ball.
- The match had been interrupted twice by rain, first at the halfway stage and again in the 18th over of GT’s innings.
- With this win, GT moved to 16 points, tied with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but took the top spot thanks to a superior net run rate (+0.79 vs +0.48).
- Rahul Tewatia held his nerve, finishing unbeaten on 11 off 4 balls, while Arshad Khan’s quick thinking and run proved decisive.
- Mumbai’s poor fielding under pressure, especially in the final over, cost them dearly. The misfield and poor coordination between Pandya, Chahar, and Suryakumar was widely criticized by fans and analysts alike.
What This Means Going Forward
This loss is a significant blow to MI’s playoff hopes, as they now face a do-or-die situation in their remaining league matches. For GT, this thrilling win not only boosts morale but also strengthens their chances of securing a top-two finish, which brings with it the all-important Qualifier advantage.
GT’s ability to absorb pressure and capitalize on the opposition’s mistakes once again highlighted their depth and composure under fire. Meanwhile, questions are beginning to swirl around Hardik Pandya’s leadership and decision-making in crunch moments, especially after a season marred by inconsistency and controversy.
Final Word:
Cricket, like life, often comes down to inches—and in this case, a missed direct hit and a mispositioned bowler were all that stood between victory and defeat. Gujarat Titans walked away with two crucial points, but Mumbai Indians will be left ruing what might have been.
