In the IPL 2025 Eliminator, Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) by 20 runs. MI posted a solid score of 228/5 in their allotted 20 overs, led by Rohit Sharma, who made 81 off 50 balls, and Jonny Bairstow 47 off 22, while Hardik Pandya chipped in 22* off 9 balls. GT's bowlers struggled to contain the MI batters. Sai Kishore took 2/42 in his 4 overs, and Prasidh Krishna took 2/53 in his 4 overs; Mohammed Siraj took the only other wicket with 1/37 in his 4 overs. 

GT chased 229 and managed 208/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The highest contributor was Sai Sudharsan with 80 off 49 balls and Washington Sundar’s 48 off 24. MI bowlers were led by Trent Boult with 2/56 in his 4 overs and Jasprit Bumrah with 1/27 in his 4 overs, with Sai Kishore and Prasidh Krishna contributing in the field. GT could not keep momentum going after Sudharsan was dismissed. While they made a good case, the total overstretched them. This victory for MI took them to Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings (PBKS); GT’s IPL 2025 had a disappointing ending. Here are the key reasons that GT lost to MI.

1. Dropped Catches during Powerplay

Gujarat’s fielders cost the team by dropping three easy catches in the powerplay. The dropped catches off Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav allowed MI to get a start and build momentum. These dropped catches gave MI an ideal start and upset GT’s bowling plans. Such errors are costly in knockout matches.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Eliminator: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans Full Match Highlights

2. Expensive Bowling in Crucial Phases

GT’s bowlers, particularly in the death overs, struggled to stem the run flow as MI made a massive total of 228/5. Both Prasidh Krishna (2/53) and Trent Boult (2/56) struggled with their line and length. They executed poor ball deliveries under pressure, and MI batters were able to get away for runs during the last overs due to ineffective bowling. The ability of the GT bowlers to defend important overs considerably tilted the match in MI’s favor.

3. Batting Collapse After Strong Start

After getting a solid 50-run stand from Sudharsan and Sundar, the innings lost its shape very quickly. The rare Kusal Mendis hit-wicket dismissal halted the momentum at a pivotal time. The lower middle order could not keep up with the run rate, which added pressure. Although there was a possibility of chasing down the runs, GT ended up losing by 20 runs.