Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
In the high-stakes IPL 2025 Eliminator clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT), Rohit Sharma rose to the occasion with a scintillating knock of 81 off just 50 balls. Opening the innings under pressure, Rohit set the tone for MI with a flurry of elegant drives, flicks, and pulls, reminding fans of his vintage form. His innings featured 9 fours and 4 sixes, as he punished anything short or overpitched with trademark precision. Rohit’s knock came at a critical time for MI, who needed a solid foundation to set a formidable total in this knockout game.
Rohit began with cautious intent, respecting the early movement of the new ball, but once settled, he unleashed his full range of strokes. He reached his fifty off 34 balls, shifting gears seamlessly thereafter. His strokeplay against the spinners was particularly impressive, using his feet well to loft over the infield and disrupt the bowlers’ rhythm. Notably, Rohit also became only the second player in IPL history to cross the 7,000-run mark; an elite milestone achieved under the spotlight of a do-or-die match.
As MI entered the middle overs, Rohit partnered effectively with Suryakumar Yadav and later Tilak Varma, ensuring the momentum didn’t drop. He was eventually dismissed in the 16th over while attempting an aggressive shot, but by then he had already powered MI to a dominant position. His knock not only provided a strong platform but also allowed the likes of Hardik Pandya to go all-out in the death overs. Thanks to the early acceleration from Rohit and the finishing efforts that followed, Mumbai Indians posted a daunting total of 228/5 in their 20 overs.
MI set to face PBKS in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2025
In response, Gujarat Titans began their chase with intent, but MI’s bowling unit kept the pressure on with disciplined lines and timely wickets. Despite a fighting effort from Sai Sudharsan and Shahrukh Khan, GT couldn’t keep up with the escalating required rate. Jasprit Bumrah and Richard Gleeson were key in the death overs, combining pace and accuracy to stifle the Titans' charge.
GT eventually finished at 208/7, falling short by 20 runs. MI’s all-round effort built on Rohit's innings and backed by strong bowling earned them a well-deserved win and a spot in Qualifier 2. This victory not only extends MI’s playoff campaign but also reaffirms Rohit Sharma’s legacy as one of the IPL’s finest big-game performers.
