IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya hails bowlers’ fighting spirit despite loss against Gujarat Titans

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya lauded his bowlers’ fighting spirit despite a three-wicket loss (DLS method) against Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Tuesday.

MI posted 155-8 on the board after Shubman Gill decided to field first. However, Pandya admitted they were 25 runs short of a par score.

Gujarat Titans had to chase 147 runs in 19 overs after rain interruption but Deepak Chahar could not defend 15 runs in the last over of the innings. Rahul Tewatia got a boundary on the first ball, and then Gerald Coetzee smashed a six to put GT in front. Arshad Khan scored the winning run on the last ball as Hardik Pandya missed a direct hit from a mid-off.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah got the big wicket of well-settled Shubman Gill and also dismissed Shahrukh Khan. Trent Boult accounted for Sherfane Rutherford, whereas Ashwani Kumar plumbed Rashid Khan in front of the wickets. The pace trio conceded only 69 runs in the 12 overs they bowled collectively and also bagged six wickets.

Hardik Pandya said after the loss, “I think we fought really well, we kept pushing as a group. I think it wasn’t a 150 wicket, but we were short by 25 runs. Credit to the bowlers as they kept fighting throughout the innings.

Shubman Gill was dropped on 35 runs by Tilak Varma, but the drop didn’t prove too costly as the GT captain was dismissed after scoring 43 runs.

Pandya added, “Dropped catches do bite you, but the catches didn’t bite us much. Really happy with the boys giving their 120 percent in the field and not giving up. The ground wasn’t wet in the first innings, but it was difficult for us as the rain kept coming in (during the second innings.) We had to play the game and we did that.”

Mumbai Indians will next take on Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala on Sunday.