Mumbai Indians (MI) posted a daunting 229 in their IPL 2025 Eliminator against Gujarat Titans (GT), thanks to a blistering opening partnership and steady contributions across the innings. This total is the second-highest ever in an IPL playoff game, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling chase.
Explosive Opening Stand Propels MI
The foundation for MI’s hefty total was laid by the opening pair, Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow, replacing the injured Ryan Rickelton, wasted no time in announcing his arrival with a 47 off 22 balls in his debut match for MI, smashing his third IPL team in as many seasons.
Though Rohit Sharma had a couple of lucky breaks early on—dropped twice in the first three overs—he capitalized on the chances, blasting 81 off 50 balls. His innings included some delightful strokes, but it was his sweep shots against Gujarat’s spinners that stood out, as he brought up 27 runs off just six balls with that shot alone.
Middle Order Steers MI’s Momentum
With the platform set, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya ensured that MI kept up the pressure. Each of them hit three sixes as MI powered through their innings. MI managed to hit 17 sixes in total, the joint third-most in a single IPL innings in 2025.
The middle-order onslaught helped build the total, with the final overs proving crucial. Hardik finished off with a flourish, smashing three sixes off Gerald Coetzee in the final over to help MI reach a mammoth total.
Pitch Conditions and Missed Opportunities for GT
GT had an opportunity early on, as Gerald Coetzee and Kusal Mendis both missed chances to dismiss Rohit. Coetzee dropped him at 3 and Mendis followed suit with another drop at 12. After these chances went begging, MI’s batters took full advantage, particularly Bairstow, who struck 26 runs off Prasidh Krishna in the fourth over, despite a couple of edges.
Rohit Sharma’s Innings: A Study in Patience and Power
After his early luck, Rohit settled into his innings, playing aggressively. However, after reaching his half-century, he slowed down, only adding 31 more runs off his last 22 balls. Despite this, MI’s other batters kept the run rate ticking, ensuring that there was no let-up in the scoring.
Final Thoughts: MI’s Commanding Position
Mumbai’s decision to bat, a day after Punjab Kings had been bundled out for just 101, was a calculated risk, but they found a pitch offering even bounce and no seam movement. GT will have a massive challenge ahead in the chase, needing to counter MI’s massive total and find ways to deal with their powerful batting lineup.
Key Performances:
- Rohit Sharma: 81 off 50 balls
- Jonny Bairstow: 47 off 22 balls
- Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya: All contributed with key sixes, helping MI finish strong.
This total of 229 will be a steep hill for Gujarat Titans to climb, and with MI’s explosive batting lineup and great recent record defending totals above 200, the pressure will be on GT to deliver a match-winning performance.
