IPL 2024: GT hand MI another loss in season openers
Gujarat Titans beat Mumbai Indians in their opening 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The 2022 champions successfully defended 168 even though MI were 129/3 at one stage. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah recorded what could have been a match-winning spell that included three wickets. Notably, MI haven't won their season opener in the IPL in over a decade.
GT compile 168/6 in 20 overs
Wriddhiman Saha (19) and Shubman Gill (31) took GT off to a flier after MI elected to field. While the duo departed after getting starts, Sai Sudharsan's composed 45 propelled the Titans past 100. GT slumped from 104/2 to 134/5 before Rahul Tewatia (22) helped them reach 168/6. Bumrah was exceptional with his three-wicket spell, while Gerald Coetzee took two scalps.
MI lose track in middle overs
MI lost Ishan Kishan in the first over. Rohit Sharma launched his counter-attack, with debutant Naman Dhir impressing with his cameo. Rohit, alongside Dewald Brevis, helped MI recover from 30/2 and get past 107/3. The GT bowlers struck in the middle overs, triggering MI's collapse. MI, who were down to 150/7, required 19 runs off the final over. Umesh Yadav restricted them to 162/9.
A phenomenal display of bowling
Bumrah starred with a standout spell for MI. The right-arm seamer, who came in as a first-change bowler, took three wickets. Bumrah first knocked over Saha to give MI their first breakthrough. The Indian seamer then returned in the death overs, dismissing David Miller and Sai Sudharsan. Notably, Bumrah conceded just 14 runs in four overs.
MI yet to win in a decade
MI are known for losing their IPL openers and bouncing back thereafter. The trend continued in IPL 2023 as well, as they lost their first game to RCB. That marked their 11th back-to-back defeat in season openers. Notably, MI last won their IPL opener in 2012, when they defeated CSK. The law of averages once again dissented MI.
Joint-most IPL wickets against MI
Mohit Sharma, who breathed fire for GT in IPL 2023, continued his exploits against MI. The right-arm seamer was the pick of GT's bowlers, having taken two wickets for 32 runs in four overs. Mohit now has the joint-most wickets against MI in the IPL (33), with Dwayne Bravo. Ravichandran Ashwin (26) follows the duo on this list.
