Nobody could have guessed the plot when the Mumbai Indians needed to win by 48 runs from 36 balls with seven Rummy Star wickets remaining. The visitors had a chance to become the first team to win a season opening since 2012 in addition to becoming the first club in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to defeat the Gujarat Titans.
Mumbai’s bowlers, led by Hardik Pandya, tried their hardest to keep Mumbai out of the run-scoring contest in the last overs, but they were unable to do so. But Umesh Yadav’s lack of enthusiasm prevented Gujarat from winning the exciting game at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, and Yadav was unable to pull off an amazing return to his old side.
Mumbai looked to be winning as the Gujarat attack bowled some tight overs in the last overs. Rashid Khan conceded just three singles in the 17th over. Mohit Sharma conceded nine runs and a wicket in the eighteenth over. Debutant Spencer Johnson conceded just eight runs and two wickets in the match’s penultimate over. Mumbai, in spite of the bowlers’ heroic efforts, had to chase 19 runs in the last over.
The visitors were somewhat encouraged after Dafabet App, who made waves by starting the match at No. 7 for Mumbai instead of his top-order spot at GT the previous two seasons, slammed a six over extra cover and then a boundary on the first ball of the final over. Ashish Nehra happily went back to his seat as an emotional Sachin Tendulkar commended the effort. MI needed the last four balls to score nine runs.
After Hardik failed to clear the boundary with the third delivery of the over, Umesh confirmed his short- and quick-bowling style by offering Rahul Tewatia an easy chance to catch at long-on.
Rashid Khan was hit by a short ball from proficient Indian fast bowler Piyush Chawla, which landed to him at deep mid-wicket. It was straight and level.
Sachin remained silent and tense in the dugout as Nehra returned to the sidelines and GT surprisingly returned to the game Betway Sports after taking two wickets in rapid succession.
Gujarat won easily at home by six runs after MI could not summon any resistance in the last two deliveries, losing one wicket each with the lower order exposed.
