Gujarat Titans Exit IPL After Narrow Defeat to Mumbai Indians

Gujarat Titans' Disappointing Exit from IPL

Following a 20-run defeat against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL Eliminator, Gujarat Titans' captain Shubman Gill expressed that winning was challenging after dropping three catches during the powerplay.

Mumbai set a formidable target, scoring 228 runs for five wickets, thanks to Rohit Sharma's explosive 81 off 50 balls and Jonny Bairstow's quickfire 47 off 22 balls. In response, despite Sai Sudharsan's impressive 80 runs off 49 balls, Gujarat managed only 208 runs for six wickets, leading to their exit from the tournament.

Gill, who is also India's new Test captain, remarked, "The last three or four overs didn't go our way, but it was a good match. Winning is not easy after dropping three catches, especially in the powerplay."

Gujarat's fielding was subpar, with three crucial catches missed, including two from Rohit and one from Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 33 runs off 20 balls. Rohit was given two lifelines during the powerplay, which he capitalized on effectively.

Initially, Gerald Coetzee dropped a catch in the deep, followed by Kusal Mendis, making his debut for Gujarat, who failed to hold onto a catch off Mohammad Siraj's delivery.

Gill added, "It's not easy for bowlers to maintain control. Our message was clear: play your game. This was particularly emphasized to Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar."

He further stated, "The last two or three matches didn't go our way, but the team, especially Sai, deserves credit for a fantastic performance. A score of 210 is good on this pitch."

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, who was named 'Player of the Match', acknowledged the importance of capitalizing on the chances he received during his innings. He said, "I only made four half-centuries and wanted to score more. I understand the significance of playing in an eliminator. This victory was a result of team efforts."

The former captain emphasized, "When I play, my goal is to give my best performance. Luck was on my side today, and I knew I had to make the most of it. I'm pleased that I could contribute and put the team in a strong position. We knew it would be challenging once the dew set in."