IPL 2025: GT vs MI, Match 9 – Who Said What?

For Gujarat Titans, the Match No 9 opened their account on the IPL 2025 Points Table, as the side registered an emphatic win against Mumbai Indians on Saturday, March 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. GT restricted the Mumbai batters to 160/6 after setting them a target of 197, having batted first post losing the toss. MI eventually lost the match by a margin of 36 runs.

The top-order for GT made a brilliant start with captain Shubman Gill starting off the proceedings with a few delicious strikes. His opening partner Sai Sudharsan followed suit, and later, wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler also contributed to announce mark his authority as the No. 3 batter for the Ahmedabad-based side in the Indian Premier League.

Talking Points

1. The trinity called Shubman-Sai-Jos

Gill had his intentions clear during his 38-run knock to give a superb start to his side, especially during the powerplay to maximize the juice out of the field restrictions. Later, Jos Buttler also hit a few around the boundary ropes to get 39 off 24 deliveries. But the most impactful of the three was Sai Sudharsan, contributing with a solid half-century, compiled with four boundaries and two sixes. No one apart from them could make significant contributions, but it proved enough at the end nonetheless.

2. Okay, a duo as well: Siraj-Krishna

Mohammed Siraj, known for striking early, did exactly the same, removing the dangerous Rohit Sharma on the fourth ball of the second innings to display his effectiveness with the ball. Moreover, he also removed Ryan Rickelton to take his second in the same spell. While Siraj’s job was to provide early breakthroughs, it was Prasidh Krishna who take care of the middle overs. In his four overs, Krishna gave just 17 runs, taking two crucial wickets of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav. Krishna was also the Player of the Match.

3. Okay, last duo (of losses)

The defeat on Saturday night was also the second-consecutive loss for the Hardik Pandya-led side, meaning they are yet to get their first points. They first had a shambolic loss to arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings in the El Clasico last Sunday, and six days later, the result was no different for the Mumbai-based franchise. They will now be up against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders. This will also be their first game at their home venue – the iconic Wankhede Stadium.

Who Said What?

Hardik Pandya, MI captain said

Tough to put (down where it went wrong). There were errors, we were not quite professional in the field – that cost us maybe 20-25 runs. They (the GT openers) did the right stuff in the powerplay, they did not play high-risk shots, they got enough runs (playing that way) and that put us on the back foot.

Early stage, but at the same time, batters have to come to the party and hopefully they do that soon. I was just thinking I bowled way too many balls, they saw it was gripping and those were the toughest balls to score off. When you have this much variable bounce, it becomes difficult as a batter. They did the same to me (what I did as a bowler).

Shubman Gill, GT captain said

(On the decision to play on this pitch and when it was taken) The decision was taken before we played the first match that we would be playing this match on black soil. (On if that decision was based on the opposition) That was a factor as well, this kind of wicket suits our batting and bowling more (than the red soil). Batting on black soil, it is difficult to hit boundaries when the ball gets old, so wanted to hit boundaries (during the powerplay).

We can all talk about the plans, certain things go your way, sometimes they don’t. (On Rashid not bowling out) I don’t know, maybe this could be the first time (he only bowled two overs in a T20 game). I actually kept his overs to bowl in the end, but the way the pacers were bowling…did not want to get the game loosened up. Prasidh was bowling beautifully and thought why not to bowl him out. (On their next games being in Bengaluru and Hyderabad) We have seen the par score on those wickets are quite different from what we have played on (here), but that will be a good challenge.

Prasidh Krishna, Player of the Match said,