GT vs MI Highlights, IPL 2024: Shubman Gill leads Gujarat to first win against Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians by six runs

Shubman Gill: The way the boys held their nerves with dew coming in, it was outstanding. The way our spinners bowled made sure we are always in the game. It's all about holding your nerves. He (Sudarshan) has beena revelation for us. We just wanted to build on the pressure and wait for them to make mistakes. The crowd is one thing, have always come whether it is a day game or a night game and shout out to all the fans who have come here to support us. I thought that was a good score, but we definitely left at least 15 runs there, it was hard to hit those short balls as the wicket got a bit slow towards the end.

Hardik Pandya: We backed ourselves to chase those 42 runs but it was one of those days where we lost the momentum. It feels good to be back because this is one stadium you can enjoy, feel the atmosphere quite lively and obviously the crowd was full and they got a good game as well. (On Tilak not taking the single vs Rashid) I think Tilak felt that that was a better idea at that point of time, I completely back him, not an issue, we've got 13 games to go.

19 needed off the last over. Umesh Yadav with the ball. Hardik Pandya on strike. A short one to start with, outside the off stump and Pandya whacks it over wide long off for six! Wow!

Next one is pitched further up and this time, Pandya whacks it squirer for four. He's setting this up for the finish, isn't he? NO!!!

Umesh yadav with a slower, short one and Pandya has hit it straight to the fielder at long on. Nine needed off the last three. Piyush Chawla comes in, he's nailed the winning runs before. In an IPL final, no less. He makes a good connection off a short one but finds the fielder at mid wicket! That should do it. Bumrah collects a single off the next one. Mulani goes big off the last one but it falls safe. It doesn't matter. Gujarat win by six runs. Shubman Gill opens his account as captain with a win. 

Spencer Johnson to bowl the penultimate over. And Tim David has picked him over mid wicket for six off the first ball. 21 needed off the last 11 balls now. But guess what, next ball is length and directed own the leg side and Varma finds the fielder in the deep. Game on!

The onus is on Pandya now. Wow. Who would've thought this is what it'll come down to. The Motera crowd has booed him out loud tonight, can he keep them mum at the end of it?

Gerald Coetzee on strike, Spencer with a short one and it's been skied and the bowler gets underneath it to complete the catch. Mumbai seven down.

Mohit Sharma into his third over. Takes the pace off to beat Tim David. But then, a flick to split the deep mid wicket and backward square leg field for four. Then, a mishit off a lower full toss, down the ground for a couple. There's a run out review at the striker's end but David makes it back in time. Another couple down deep square. But Sharma takes the big hitter out of the equation in the over. A slower bouncer, miscued, and David Miller's are one of the safest pair of hands in the game. Mumbai lose their fifth wicket.

Rashid Khan into his last over. He's played a big hand in bringing Gujarat back into this game after Rohit-Brevis piled on the runs for the third-wicket stand. A couple of three-runs overs. Tilak Varma tries to reverse sweep him off the round the wicket angle but misses it altogether. Quite a surprise that the batting side have been reluctant to take a single at this stage. Mumbai need 36 to win off the last three overs.

Mohit Sharma had dropped a caught and bowled to remove Rohit Sharma. But he's got Dewald Brevis off a similar opportunity. The Proteas lets go of his bat in dejection. At 46, he looked all set to see this one through for Mumbai. Gujarat call for a strategic timeout. Mumbai are 130/4 after 16 overs, still needing 39 to win. 

Rashid Khan into his third over. Gujarat need some wickets here to put the pressure on Mumbai. Rashid may not have got those but he's set the stage for those to follow with a neatly tied over that costs just the five runs. MI need 43 to win off the last five overs.

Mohit Sharma back to bowling. Angles a length ball across Tilak Varma, who gets an inside egde onto it but it whiskers past the off stump on its way for a boundary. Nine runs come from the 14th over, Mumbai are 121/3. 

As it turns out, it's not that costly a drop in context of the game. Sai Kishore traps the Mumbai Indians opener off an attempted sweep shot. Rohit is not sure of the umpire's on-field call and goes upstairs but it's whizzed past his inside edge and caught him flush. That would've hit the top of middle. 

Fine over for Gujarat. Five runs come off it. 112/3 after 13 overs.

Oh dear, this can be a big moment in the game, maybe even Gujarat's season. 

A slower one from Mohit Sharma induces a fierce shot back at him by Rohit Sharma but the GT seamer drops it. And in the process seems to have injured his finger. He's off the field for treatment by the dugout. Let's not forget how crucial he was last season for GT. And in the absence of one Mohammed Shami, this might be a big blow for last year's runner ups. 107/2 after 12 overs.

Dewald Brevis, what a prodigious talent!

Sai Kishore offers just the barest of rooms on the off side and that's enough for the Porteas batter to inside-out him over covers and into the stands for six. 97/2 after 11 overs, and MI are in full control of this one at the moment.

Spencer Johnson introduced into the fray. And Dewald Brevis is quick to put him on the back foot. That was short and exactly where Brevis wanted it as he cuts it over backward point for SIX! Baby AB in full flight. Over to Rohit Sharma, who first pulls it clear of the deep mid wicket fielder for four, then slashes one down deep third for the same result. 17 from the over, after 10 overs MI are 88/2.

Sai Kishore into his second over from the other end. Rohit Sharma, who's been so easy on the eye so far, brings out the reverse sweep. Uses the pace of the bowler to guide the ball towards the ropes. That's his fifth four to go with the one maximum. 71/2 after nine overs.

Wow!

He may be playing in his third IPL but Dewald Brevis is only 20 years old. Not easy to pick that by his no-look six off Rashid Khan, no less. Just the slightest of width outside off and it's been dispatched over the long off boundary, which by the way had a fielder stationed in place just in case. After eight overs, MI are 64/2.

Rashid Khan rolls his arms for the first time this season. Rohit Sharma sweeps him fine for his fourth four. It was googly but Rohit read it perfectly. Next ball, it's another wrong 'un, this time only quicker followed by a strong front foot defence. A good contest in the brewing between these two and Rashid is pumped up. Fifty up for MI. 52/2 after six overs.

Dewald Brevis takes a cue from his parter in the middle. A strong back foot defence off an inswinging delivery from Azmatullah Omarzai and the South African finds his first boundary of the game. 46/2 after five overs.

Sai Sudharsan said during the mid-innings chat that there wasn't much dew at that point so GT's bowlers have a shot at defending this. In the last couple of overs though we have seen fielders dive like this outfield is a water slide! Seems to be a lot of dew, and that's not good news for GT.

Rohit Sharma the batter, you love to see him back at his strokeplaying best. First up, a neatly wolven cover drive. Umesh Yadav lands it nicely, full and wide outside off and Rohit leans into the drive before creaming it past Gill at covers. Another day, and he would've enjoyed that. Then, an even better shot made to look so easy on the eye. A length ball, flicked with nonchalance over mid wicket for six. How? Cricket physics rules don't apply on this man. After four overs, MI are 40/2.

A fine start for the 24-year-old younster from Punjab. Omarzai is taken to the cleaners with three fours in a row and then, an even gorgeous six. A slot ball, lifted over long off with a sensual off drive. But the Afghan has the last laugh. A slanted in delivery that skid on its way in to the right-hander. The umpire isn't interested for an lbw appeal but GT go upstairs and wow, what a review! Impact in line, hitting middle and leg and GT get their second wicket. 30/2 after three overs.

A bit of luck for Rohit Sharma early in the game. Umesh Yadav steams in from the other end and dips one into the right-hander. It takes a faint inside edge and takes a deflection off Saha's left-glove on its way down fine leg for four. First boundary for MI. 

The second is a mark of confidence from their opener. A dance down the track off a back of a length delivery and the pull is in front of the square, down deep mid wicket for four. 11/1 after two overs.

Azmatullah Omarzai has been handed the new ball. Ishan Kishan on strike. He'll have a point to prove this season, following the annual BCCI contract snub.

Not today though as he nicks one behind and Wriddhiman Saha completes the catch. First wicket for Gujarat and Kishan departs without scoring. 2/1 after the first over.

AB de Villiers on the Rohit-Hardik dynamic: Right now, it's easy as they have all come fresh for the first game. The real test for them will be at say match 10, when there's pressure to seal a playoffs spot, when there are mistakes being made. So far, so good.

Sai Sudharsan: I feel the wicket is a bit tricky and even the bounce is a bit low. They were getting some turn. I think this is a good target, hopefully we save it. I felt this is not a wicket where you can just go after the bowler every ball, every over. So I was just thinking of building the middle overs nicely and giving it to the finishers. He (Bumrah) bowled really well today and executed really well, I actually enjoyed that match-up. The dew is also little less today, so I feel that the spinners might come into play and it might grip a little.

Gerald Coetzee to bowl the last over. Rahul Tewatia goes for glory straightway, flicks the first ball down deep square leg and Naman Dhir completes a fabulous low-diving catch at the boundary. The danger man departs with five deliveries yet to be played. 

Rashid Khan is the new batter in. He joins Vijay Shankar in the middle. But it's a very good finish with the ball from the Proteas, who ends up with two wickets. And there's a run out check off the last ball, not out. Gujarat finish at 168/6.

And just like that Jasprit Bumrah takes over, firing those toe-crushing yorkers. This is excellent cricket on offer here in Ahmedabad. A 19-run over is followed by another efficient bowling display by Mumbai's talismanic pacer, giving away just the seven runs. 161/6 after 19 overs.

Just when you think Mumbai have this in their bag, Rahul Tewatia comes in and starts smacking as if that Bumrah over was ages ago. Luke Wood into his second over has got a harsh taste of IPL bowling. A six off the first ball, a couple of boundaries in a row, and the English pacer has lost his length. Couple of above-waist no balls and Gujarat have stolen 19 from the over. 150 up for the home side. 154/5 after 18 overs.

The Jasprit Bumrah wicket off a slower one at this point in T20s is inevitable. The batsmen know its going to come, most likely in the death overs, and yet, they can't prepare for it. David Miller had looked like getting into the groove for his death overs exploit and Bumrah seems to have read it well. Hardik Pandya takes the catch and look at those celebrations! Mayhaps, as a response to those boos? GT go four down.

A delivery later, another one bites the dust and this time it's Sai Sudharsan, who perfectly locates the fielder at the deep square leg boundary. A third wicket for Bumrah, oh he's back. Half of the home side are back in the hut. Superb over that for MI. Just the two runs conceded and two wickets. 135/5 after 17 overs.

Coetzee into his third over. David Miller finds his first boundary. This is his territory, the death overs. Coetzee bowls a fuller delivery outside the off stump and his Proteas teammate leans into his cover drive to pickpocket four runs. Nine off the 16th over, GT are 133/3. 

Sandip G: The headbands were once everywhere. Bjorn Borg wore the most insouciant of all, Socrates the most graceful, and Dennis Lillee the most menacing. The fashion lanscape and the sporting wardrobe changed at the stroke of the century. And headands disappeared. But two fiery Mumbai Indians men are making it fashionable again, Gerard Coetzee and Hardik Pandya. It’s more like a bandana-headband than the conventional one. Coetzee has once explained the reason: “My dad used to wear a sock around his head when he would cut the grass, because we sweat a lot in my family.I wear it to keep the sweat out of my face. I don’t like having my hands in my face the whole time, so it really helped with that. After that it sort of became a thing.” Pandya once joked:” I was seized by the spirit of (Ashoke) Dinda.” The Bengal seamer was never spotted without one. Coetzee has swapped the black he wears in South Africa shirts for the blue. Hardik has switched from the dark green of Titans to the blazing blue of Mumbai Indians. Together they have made headbands fashionable again.

Hardik Pandya was pumped for a couple of boundaries each in his first over, and returns for a second spell as Gujarat look to finish big in the last six overs. Round the wicket to the left-handed Sudharsan, who opens the face of his bat to find the gap down backward point for four. The timing was immaculate. Sudharsan stood like a statue in his crease until the very last moment before opening his bat. After 15 overs, GT are 124/3. 

Coetzee continues from the other end. David Miller is the new man in for Gujarat, and the southpaw survives a run out off the first ball. Sai Sudharsan wanted a brisk run, Miller was in two minds but the throw from the fielder was off target. Sudharsan though, keeps the run rate going as he rocks back into his crease to execute a pull shot for four. 114/3 after 14 overs.

Well, well, well. Hardik Pandya just received a big round of boos from the crowd the Narendra Modi Stadium as he attempted to dive to field a ball and it bounced off him. It is now officially, the most interesting 'transfer' in IPL history, as we had all suspected it to be a game-changer. This is the sort of thing we see in football all the time.

Ian Bishop: 'What can he do to win them back?' 
Brian Lara: “Play for India….the next time they play here.”

Meanwhile a good second over from Bumrah costs just the two runs. 106/3 after 13 overs.

Finally, Mumbai unleash Gerald Coetzee with the ball. The Proteas quick had been one of the standout bowlers at the World Cup last year in India. Can he seal his spot as Bumrah's number two early in the season? A decent start to his quota, consistently clocking over 143. Then goes with a cross seamer, and there's a wicket to follow. Omarzai miscues one, Tilak Varma hangs onto it. 100 up for Gujarat, but they lose a third wicket. 104/3 after 12 overs.

Piyush Chawla into his third over. And Gujarat are upping the ante now. Sai Sudharsan takes the initiative off the very first ball of the over. A flighted delivery just outside leg is swept with disdain over deep backward square leg for six. Then, Azmatullah Omarzai takes a risk, just about clears the long on boundary for his first maximum. Another hefty over for the home side - 17 come from it. 99/2 after 11 overs.

Finally a boundary each for the new pair in the middle. It's right-arm off break bowler Naman Dhir, who comes in to bowl his first over. Sudharsan meets his shortish delivery outside the off stump with a slap shot over covers for four. Later, Azmatullah Omarzai heaves one over square leg for another four. 82/2 at the halfway stage.

Mulani into this third over. MI have gotten a hang of the surface, a pretty slow one. Vikram Solanki, Gujarat Titans' Director of Cricket Operations concedes, "We weren't expecting it to be this way. It's surprised us." Skipper Shubman Gill had looked fairly optimistic about it at the toss.

Three runs come off the ninth over. 69/2, Gujarat.

Just the wicket Mumbai needed. 

Piyush Chawla traps Shubman Gill into going over long on, but the GT captain is unable to get it over the long on fielder and is caught at the boundary. The pace on the ball wasn't enough for it to travel, even though Gill had advanced quite a bit outside his crease. Gujarat lose a second wicket. 66/2 after eight overs.

Our man on the ground with the lens, Nirmal Harindran captures Jasprit Bumrah as he celebrates the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha at the Narendra Modi Stadium. (Express photo)

Mulani continues from the other end. He's finding good turn, especially with the angle against the right-hander from round the wicket. Sai Sudharsan, who score crucial runs for his franchise last year, is yet to get going. Fifty up for Gujarat. 57/1 after seven overs.

Piyush Chawla takes over from the other end. He'd been a crucial figure in the bowling department last season. A good first over to start his IPL 2024 campaign, costing just the four runs. 47/1 after six overs as the field restrictions are lifted.

Sandip G: Wriddhiman Saha would turn 40 this year. His international days are long gone. He has entered the next stage of his career, that is transitioning from player to coach. He was Tripura’s mentor last season. But whenever Hardik Pandya erred on the fuller side, he would handsomely punch him through cover and extra cover, his movements so fluid that you wonder how has left his game untouched. Just then, Jasprit Bumrah zipped in and ripped in a vicious yorker. He cannot bring the bat down in time and gets bowler. At that moment he might have felt his age, that his reflexes have indeed dawdled, that he is months from turning 40.

Shams Mulani replaces Hardik Pandya after Mumbai bag their first wicket via Jasprit Bumrah. Shubman Gill however, doesn't seem perturbed by it. Takes the attack to the left-arm spinner. A fierce cut through covers for four, and the first six of the innings, swept over deep backward square leg. 43/1 after five overs.

First change in bowling for MI. Jasprit Bumrah, in his first IPL game since 2022, replaces Luke Wood and strikes!

A delicious yorker, right on the money, and Wriddhiman Saha is cleaned up. Hits right in the middle. MI get the first wicket. The crowd with a loud cheer for the local boy as well. 31/1 after four overs.

Pandya continues from the other end. And so does Saha with the early onslaught. The MI skipper has taken the pace off the ball but Saha picks him, first with a drive down backward point, then with one through extra cover off a juicy half volley. That's five fours in the first three overs for the home team and the crowd is going bananas. 27/0 after three overs.

Making his debut in the IPL, Luke Wood is handed the ball for the second over. Surprising with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee also in the playing XI. Guess MI want to go with the right-left combination while they can still generate some movement off the ball. Wood, who had a pretty good PSL season, is coming in from over the wicket to test the two right handers and is off to a good start. But Gill spoils it a little off the last one. Just the right amount of width on offer and he taps it through the mid off region for his second boundary off the game. 18/0 after two overs.

And Wriddhiman Saha is off the mark in style. Pandya with width on offer and Saha just carresses it through the point region for four. Gujarat off the mark in style. So is their skipper. Shubman Gill is pitched a fuller one on his pads and he doesn't miss those. Flicked down fine leg for four. 11/0 after the first over.

There was quite the colorful pre-match ceremony at the venue with some traditional dance and music on offer. But even before today, the air around this fixture has been tinged with anticipation for a while now. You know the narratives, you heard the noise at the toss, so much on offer. But all those butterflies will have to fly away as we move close to the first ball. Shubman Gill walks out to bat alongside Wriddhiman Saha. How important have they been in Gujarat's success in this league so far! Speaking of, Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the entirety of the 2023 season, is back for MI and will be looking to get back to his wicket-taking ways. But it's captain Hardik Pandya who has the new ball. All set at Motera for the live action. Saha takes guard. Off goes Pandya.

Given the events of the offseason, Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians was always going to be a blockbuster, not just for events during the match but for the narratives around it. Even before a ball was bowled, there were plenty of little moments to note. Ashish Nehra is a very popular guy in Indian cricket circles, and he shared laughs with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma from the MI camp, but also spent a fair bit of time with Hardik Pandya. If there were any ill feelings at all about his leaving, you wouldn't be able to guess. Then there was the big hug between Hardik and Shubman Gill, the past and present leaders of GT. As Hardik won the toss, the Ahmedabad crowd cheered for the man who led them to two finals and a title. Hardik played the right notes too, remembering his familial roots in Gujarat and the cricketing roots in Mumbai. But the bigger cheer was reserved for Gill. The new GT captain soaked it in, as he begins a new journey at the venue where he has enjoyed remarkable success with the bat, both in the IPL and for India.

Looks a beautiful playing surface. 63 metres, 66 metres and 73 metres downtown. Six-hitting ground. It's a bit bare in the middle, green patches as well. It's an even surface, some cracks, but this is full of runs. The batters are going to enjoy, reckon Ian Bishop and Brian Lara.

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill(c), Wriddhiman Saha(w), Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Spencer Johnson

Subs: BR Sharath, Mohit Sharma, Manav Suthar, Abhinav Manohar, Noor Ahmad

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Shams Mulani, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah, Luke Wood

Subs: Dewald Brevis, Romario Shepherd, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Mohammad Nabi

Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians: We are gonna bowl first. Looks like a decent track, might get better if dew comes. Feels good to be back. My birthplace is in Gujarat, very grateful to this state. My cricketing birth happened in Mumbai, happy to be back. It's been two weeks we started the camp. Boys are eager to perform. We had wonderful practice matches. The excitement is a different feeling. We have four quicks, three spinners and seven batters. Making sure all the departments are looked after.

Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans: Feels exciting to captain in a stadium where I have enjoyed a lot of success. The support has been tremendous. I was a week prior before this game, played a practice match. We have got three players making debuts for GT - Umesh, Johnson and Omarzai.

Hardik Pandya wins the toss, Mumbai will bowl first.

Live pictures from the Narendra Modi Stadium: Three Gujarat Titans players receive their debut caps - Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson, and Azmatullah Omarzai.

-Umesh Yadav to fill Shami-sized hole?

-Suryakumar Yadav to miss out

-Where will Hardik Pandya bat?

The main talking points about the two lineups, READ HERE!

GT predicted XI: Shubman Gill (C), Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson

Substitute: Abinav Manohar

MI predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal

Substiute: Vishnu Vinod

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Mohammad Nabi, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah, Luke Wood, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Gopal, Vishnu Vinod, Shams Mulani, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Kumar Kartikeya, Shivalik Sharma, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Madhwal, Nuwan Thushara, Dewald Brevis, Kwena Maphaka, Naman Dhir

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill(c), Wriddhiman Saha(w), Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Noor Ahmad, Kane Williamson, Matthew Wade, Jayant Yadav, Sandeep Warrier, Shahrukh Khan, Abhinav Manohar, Sharath BR, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Darshan Nalkande, Kartik Tyagi, Spencer Johnson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sushant Mishra

The former - yeah, that'll take a while to get used to - Mumbai Indians skipper is no new to working alongside new faces. It was something he'd openly admitted to enjoy in the recently concluded India-England Test series. Back to playing in the IPL, it's what he's looking forward to this season. 

"A lot of players that we got from the auction, a lot of new faces, young players who have done well in domestic cricket as well as international cricket... quite looking forward to that, hopefully they can make a mark right from the beginning," Rohit said on the eve of MI's game in Ahmedabad.

Mumbai's latest additions this season include Gerald Coetzee, uncapped U-19 World Cup star Kwena Maphaka, England's Luke Wood, Sri Lanka's Nuwan Thushara, West Indies' Romario Shepherd and Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi.

GT-MI-laap ?#AavaDe | #GTKarshe | #TATAIPL2024 pic.twitter.com/2dJbQxvXQw

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 22, 2024

Mumbai Indians: Always mention the riches of the owners. Use corporate jargon to explain their cricketing decisions. Use words like succession plan, punt, brand, market, long-term vision, churn, herding cats, breaking silos when articulating about the Rohit-Hardik switch.

Ashish Nehra: Credit him for success, blame players for failure. “He should be made the Indian coach”.

Sandeep Dwivedi with a last-minute revision of IPL characters, teams and terms – the crash course to be IPL-intelligent. Borrowing liberally from the cliches mouthed by TV pundits, here are some smart lines to sound like an expert. (Read his sports column here)