Shubman Gill’s century propels Gujarat Titans to IPL final, Mumbai Indians outclassed

Shubman Gill continued his remarkable form by scoring his third century of the season, propelling the Gujarat Titans to a resounding 62-run victory over the Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 2 of the IPL. Gill’s magnificent knock of 129 runs off just 60 balls, including 7 fours and 10 sixes, helped the Titans post a massive total of 233/3.

In response, despite a valiant effort from Suryakumar Yadav (61) and Tilak Varma (43), the injury-hit Mumbai Indians fell short and were bowled out for 171 in 18.2 overs.

The turning point of the match came when Mohit Sharma, introduced in the 15th over, wreaked havoc with his exceptional bowling skills, finishing with outstanding figures of 5 wickets for just 10 runs in 2.2 overs. His devastating spell triggered a collapse in the Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup, as they went from 149/4 in 14 overs to being all-out for 171. Sharma’s brilliant performance played a crucial role in securing the Titans’ victory and their second consecutive IPL final berth.

Shubman Gill’s scintillating century not only powered his team to a commanding total but also etched his name in the record books. With this century, Gill became only the second Indian batsman, after Virat Kohli in 2016, and the fourth overall, joining Jos Buttler (2022) and David Warner (2016), to score more than 800 runs in a single IPL season. His total runs for the season now stand at an impressive 851.

In their chase of 234, the Mumbai Indians faced multiple setbacks due to injuries. Ishan Kishan had to be substituted after a collision with Chris Jordan during the change of overs, causing an eye injury. Rohit Sharma also suffered a blow to his hand while fielding, and Cameron Green had to temporarily retire hurt after being struck on his left forearm by Hardik Pandya. Despite the challenges, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma provided some resistance with their notable contributions.

However, the Titans’ bowlers, led by Mohammad Shami and the exceptional Mohit Sharma, continued to trouble the Mumbai batsmen. Rashid Khan also made significant contributions with the ball, taking crucial wickets to seal the victory for the Titans.

Earlier in the match, Gill’s innings was the highlight of the Titans’ batting display. He started steadily and then unleashed a brutal assault in the second half of his innings. Gill’s partnership of 138 runs with B Sai Sudharsan (43) for the second wicket set the stage for a monumental total. Gill’s knock included a flurry of sixes against both seamers and spinners, as he surpassed the 800-run mark and recorded the highest individual score of the season. His remarkable innings also surpassed Faf du Plessis’ total to claim the Orange Cap for most runs in the tournament.

Despite a brief rain delay at the start, the Titans made a solid start to their innings. Gill had some luck on his side, surviving a dropped catch and a close call, but he made the most of it and went on to dominate the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack.

With this impressive victory, the Gujarat Titans have secured their place in the IPL final for the second consecutive year, while the Mumbai Indians’ title defense comes to an end. The Titans will now be looking to carry their momentum into the final and clinch the coveted IPL trophy. (With inputs from PTI)