IPL 2025: Are No-balls the Real Culprit Behind MI's Narrow Defeat to GT?

Mumbai, May 7 (NationPress) In a match that dramatically shifted before the Mumbai Indians ultimately lost their grip, captain Hardik Pandya did not hold back in pinpointing the major factor behind their three-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans: no-balls.

On a tumultuous, rain-affected evening at the Wankhede Stadium, where the lead changed hands until the very last ball, Pandya’s honest reflection encapsulated MI's disappointment. "The dropped catches weren't a significant issue for us. We executed well there," Hardik remarked following MI's defeat. "However, the no-balls, particularly my no-ball and the one in the final over, were definitely costly."

“In my view, it's a crime,” he stated, referring to the no-balls—two bowled by him and another crucial one by Deepak Chahar in the closing over—that turned out to be detrimental in a match defined by narrow margins.

While defending 15 runs in the last over of a revised target of 147, MI's chances were severely impacted when Deepak Chahar overstepped at a pivotal moment. Earlier, Pandya's no-balls in the eighth over had already cost the team 18 runs. “That certainly hurt us,” he expressed. “Yet, I take pride in the resilience we demonstrated.”

After opting to bat, MI managed a total of 155/8, despite a solid half-century from Will Jacks. From a strong position of 97/2, they lost six wickets for just 58 runs in the final 9.3 overs. Nevertheless, the bowlers, particularly in the challenging wet conditions, brought MI back into contention, forcing GT to work hard for every run. “It wasn't a pitch for 150 runs. We fell short by 20-30 runs. But I commend the bowlers for consistently hitting the right areas,” Pandya added.

Gujarat’s captain Shubman Gill described the initial stages of the chase as “feeling like a Test match,” with rain and wind aiding ball movement. Following a cautious start—accumulating just 29 runs in the powerplay—Gill (43) partnered with Jos Buttler to form a 72-run partnership. However, a sudden collapse (4 wickets for 13 runs in 15 balls) left GT trailing behind the DLS par score when rain interrupted play around midnight.

“A whirlwind of emotions, mostly frustrating,” Gill reflected. “But fate granted us another opportunity, and everything fell into place.” The young captain praised Rashid Khan, who returned with impressive figures of 1/21, just days after conceding 50 runs against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. “His performance today after recovering from injury was a significant positive,” he noted.