A match-winning spell from pacer Prasidh Krishna (2/18) complemented a composed half-century by Sai Sudharsan as Gujarat Titans clinched a comprehensive 36-run triumph over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday.
Sudharsan underlined his growing stature with a steady 63 off 41 deliveries, striking four boundaries and two sixes.
His crucial 78-run stand with skipper Shubman Gill (38 off 27 balls; 4x4, 1x6) propelled Gujarat Titans to 196 for eight, after Mumbai Indians elected to field.
In response, Mumbai Indians, despite a 62-run third-wicket partnership between Tilak Varma (39; 36b, 3x4, 1x6) and Suryakumar Yadav (48; 28b, 1x4, 4x6), faltered in their pursuit, managing only 160 for six.
The turning point of the match came with the late introduction of Prasidh Krishna in the 12th over. He immediately made his presence felt, dismissing Tilak Varma with a well-disguised slower delivery, which was miscued straight to Rahul Tewatia in the deep. His spell, which included 14 dot balls, choked Mumbai's momentum.
Mumbai Indians' chase derailed further as they lost three wickets in quick succession, including that of Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Hardik Pandya (11), which virtually sealed their fate.
For Gujarat Titans, the victory marked their first win of the season, maintaining their stronghold at home.
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The five-time champions Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, suffered consecutive defeats following their loss in Chennai. They now return home to face Kolkata Knight Riders.
Mumbai’s innings got off to a rocky start, losing two early wickets in the Powerplay. Mohammed Siraj (2/34) made inroads, first dismissing Rohit Sharma (8) with a delivery that seamed in sharply to dismantle his stumps. Ryan Rickelton (6) followed soon after, dragging a Siraj delivery onto his stumps.
Suryakumar counterattacked, unfurling an array of strokes, including a flick over fine leg and two towering sixes off R Sai Kishore. Tilak Varma provided support, taking on Kagiso Rabada with three successive boundaries.
However, with 89 runs required off the last seven overs, Prasidh Krishna tightened the screws.
A fiery bouncer struck Suryakumar on the helmet, momentarily halting play as the physio attended to him. Prasidh’s figures at that stage read an economical 2-0-6-1.
Suryakumar, having staged a valiant counterattack, perished to a deceptive cross-seam delivery from Prasidh, dashing Mumbai’s hopes.
With 79 runs required off five overs, pressure mounted, leading to Hardik Pandya’s dismissal to Rabada’s well-executed slower delivery.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans looked poised for a total exceeding 200, but a disciplined effort from Hardik Pandya (2/29) curtailed their momentum.
Sudharsan’s dismissal in the 18th over, trapped lbw by Trent Boult’s scorching yorker, triggered a mini-collapse.
Gujarat Titans tumbled from 170 for three in 17 overs to 196 for eight by the end of their innings, losing five wickets in the last three overs.
Sudharsan had begun in fine fashion, dispatching Boult for two crisp boundaries early on.
aHe later took on Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, welcoming the spinner with a boundary before launching him over the ropes for a straight six.
His fluent knock saw him register his eighth IPL half-century off 33 deliveries, featuring a mammoth 84-metre six over deep mid-wicket.
Despite Mumbai’s late resurgence with the ball, Gujarat Titans had already laid a solid foundation on a black-soil surface, ensuring a winning total.
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