With seven wickets remaining and the Mumbai Indians needing to win by 48 runs from 36 balls, no one could have predicted the plot. In addition to trying to become the first club in the dafabet to defeat the Gujarat Titans, the visitors also had a chance to become the first side to win a season opener since 2012.
Mumbai’s bowlers, led by Hardik Pandya, gave it their all in the last overs to prevent Mumbai from adding runs, but they were unable to do so. However, Gujarat’s thrilling victory at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium was marred by Umesh Yadav’s lack of passion, as Yadav was unable to complete an incredible comeback to his former team.
With the Gujarat attack bowling some tight overs in the final overs, Mumbai appeared to be winning. In the 17th over, Rashid Khan gave up just three singles. In the eighteenth over, Mohit Sharma gave up nine runs along with a wicket. In the penultimate over of the contest rummy gold, debutant Spencer Johnson gave up just eight runs and two wickets. Mumbai had to chase 19 runs in the final over despite the bowlers’ gallant efforts.
After Hardik, who caused a stir by beginning the match at No. 7 for Mumbai rather than his top-order slot at GT the previous two seasons, hammered a six over extra cover and then a boundary on the first ball of the last over, the visitors were slightly heartened. Sachin Tendulkar, looking passionate, praised the effort, and Ashish Nehra returned to his seat with satisfaction. MI needed to score nine runs off of the final four balls.
With the third delivery of the over, Umesh demonstrated his ability to bowl quickly and short after Hardik failed to clear the boundary, giving Rahul Tewatia a simple opportunity to catch at long-on.
Betway, a skilled Indian fast bowler, hit Rashid Khan with a short ball that fell to him at deep mid-wicket. It was level and straight.
As Nehra went back to the sidelines and GT unexpectedly rejoined the game after taking two wickets in quick succession, Sachin stayed quiet and tense in the dugout.
After MI failed to muster any opposition in the final two deliveries, losing one wicket apiece with the lower order exposed, Gujarat triumphed easily at home by six runs.
