NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians' bid to finally beat Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium was foiled again in a thrilling finish to Sunday's late game.
Hardik Pandya, who led Gujarat in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, came back to his former home ground only to watch Shubman Gill make a winning start as Titans captain.
Chasing 169 to win, Mumbai were propped up by 46 runs from impact substitute Dewald Brevis. Former skipper Rohit Sharma scored 43 off 29 balls.
An inexplicable batting strategy saw Pandya coming out to bat at number seven and the MI captain was on 1 when Umesh Yadav came on to bowl the last over, with MI needing 19 runs.
Pandya smashed the first ball, a slower one, for a six over extra cover.
Next delivery, Umesh bowled a short length ball with enough width for Pandya to pounce and bash that along the ground through extra cover.
But Umesh had his revenge on the next delivery with a pacy short ball that Pandya couldn't get the desired connection on the pull.
Pandya dragged it off the toe end of the bat and Rahul Tewatia took a simple catch at long-on, triggering the biggest roar from the crowd.
Watch the video of the dismissal here:
Gujarat Titans won by 6 runs for their third win against Mumbai Indians at the venue.
1/9:GT edge MI in IPL thriller to spoil Hardik's homecoming
AFP
2/9:Gujarat Titans beat Mumbai Indians
Gujarat Titans edged out Mumbai Indians by six runs in an IPL thriller as Hardik Pandya suffered a defeat as Mumbai captain after he controversially replaced Rohit Sharma.AP
3/9:Rohit Sharma & Dewald Brevis shine
Rohit (43) and Dewald Brevis (46) shone in MI's chase of their 169 target with a third-wicket stand of 77 but Gujarat's bowlers hit back to keep the opposition down 162/9 in Ahmedabad.ANI
4/9:Shubman Gill's victory
It was celebration at the world's biggest cricket stadium for new home team captain Shubman Gill who spoiled Pandya's homecoming.AFP
5/9:Stadium atmosphere
Close to 90,000 fans turned up at the 132,000 capacity arena.IANS
6/9:Bowlers shine for Gujarat
Mohit Sharma took down Brevis and then Tim David in successive overs before fellow quick Spencer Johnson struck twice in the 19th over to dent the chase further.AFP
7/9:Hardik Pandya's efforts in vain
Hardik Pandya attempted to go for the 19 runs needed in the last over with a six and a four off Umesh Yadav before being caught out on the third.AP
8/9:Bumrah's impressive bowling
Jasprit Bumrah came in first change to bowled Wriddhiman Saha with a trademark toe-crushing yorker and finished with figures of 3-14 in four overs to keep down Gujarat to 168/6.PTI
