It was not how we wanted to wrap up our brilliant Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign. We gave our everything on the field, but fell short against Mumbai Indians in a closely-fought Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Friday.

Chasing a target of 229, Sai Sudharsan produced another batting masterclass, while Washington Sundar played a blitzkrieg knock, however, it wasn’t enough on the day as we went down fighting by 20 runs.

Despite best efforts from our bowlers, MI earlier posted 228/5 in their 20 overs. 

Sai Kishore and Prasidh Krishna were our standout performers with two wickets each. 

Sai Ki broke opening partnership

Our bowlers were off to a challenging start as Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow added 84 runs for the opening wicket.

Later, in the eighth over, Sai Kishore provided us with the crucial breakthrough as he dismissed Bairstow.

Sai Kishore bagged another scalp

Sai Ki continued his brilliant spell as he soon removed Suryakumar Yadav to end their 69-run stand with Rohit.

The left-arm spinner finished with figures of 2/42 in his quota of four overs.  

Mumbai Indians posted 228

Prasidh Krishna later claimed the huge wicket of Rohit to reduce MI to 186/3 in the 17th over.

In the following over, Mohammed Siraj joined the party as he got the better of Tilak Varma.

While Prasidh reclaimed the Purple Cap after he got rid of Naman Dhir, MI then posted 228/5 in their 20 overs.

Sai Su blazed to fifty

Chasing 229, Sai Sudharsan and Kusal Mendis got us off to a dazzling start despite losing captain Shubman Gill early. 

Sai Su clobbered Trent Boult for a maximum in the third over, while Mendis smashed him for back-to-back sixes in the same over to accumulate 21 runs.

Sudharsan and Mendis continued the onslaught as we raced to 66/1 at the end of the powerplay. 

However, their scintillating 64-run stand came to an end as Mendis fell in the seventh over.

Meanwhile, Sudharsan hammered Mitchell Santner for consecutive fours to notch up his sixth fifty in IPL 2025.

Washi, Sudharsan forged crucial partnership

Washington Sundar and Sudharsan continued the momentum as the duo stitched a vital partnership to bring up the team’s hundred in 9.2 overs.

Washi soon took charge as he smashed Hardik Pandya for a four and a six, and later hammered Boult for two maximums and a four to amass 18 runs in the 13th over.

His swashbuckling knock ended after he departed for 48 off just 24 balls in the next over.

Our memorable campaign ended

Batting at No.5, Sherfane Rutherford kept us in the hunt as he hit three boundaries in a span of four deliveries.

However, we later suffered a massive blow as Sudharsan was dismissed for a scintillating 80, laced with 10 fours and a maximum.

Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan fought hard till the very end, however, we fell short by 20 runs to end our IPL 2025 campaign.

Despite the narrow defeat, it was a memorable season for us with plenty of positives and tonnes of memories.

While our season ends here, we promise we will be back next season, better and stronger. Until next time, Titans FAM!

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 228/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 81, Jonny Bairstow 47; Sai Kishore 2/42) beat Gujarat Titans 208/6 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 80, Washington Sundar 48; Trent Boult 2/56) by 20 runs.