Match Overview:
The drama of Wankhede in Match 56 of IPL 2025 included almost everything you’d hope for from a classic – rain delays, nail-biting finishes, and last-ball chaos! If you were living under a rock, here’s a timely rewind to all the action that kept the fans talking late into the night.
Mumbai’s Innings – Jacks and Suryakumar Lead the Charge:
When Gujarat Titans (GT) opposed Mumbai Indians (MI), there would be plenty at stake, and this game provided plenty of entertainment. MI batted first and struggled to put together any sort of credible totals. At 155 for 8, MI scored a fantastic 53 from Will Jacks who converted what could have been a shaky start into a respectable total. Jacks made GT pay as he was dropped twice – first on 0 and then again on 29 – and smashed his first fifty for MI, in just 29 balls. Suryakumar Yadav found his way to a useful 35, and continued to stretch is streak of 12 consecutive scores of 25 or more – but the rest of the batting was unable to find the order the bowlers; GT turned up the pressure.
GT Bowlers Fight Back:
GT’s bowlers, including R Sai Kishore who took 2 for 34 and Rashid Khan who got back to his best after a rough outing in the last game, effectively kept MI from galloping away in this match. Kishore’s two wickets – one of Jacks and the other of the dangerous Suryakumar were vital in keeping MI within reasonable distance.
Prasidh Krishna and Gerald Coetzee chipped in with vital wickets, tightening the screws on MI’s middle order.
GT’s Chaotic Chase:
You can never count on chasing 155 to be easy, particularly with the pitch early in the game showing seam movement. GT got off to a slow start, with but losing B Sai Sudharsan for a duck, to Trent Boult who produced a peach and found his edge. Shubman Gill top scored for GT with 43, and Jos Buttler batted quickly for 30. GT’s innings sat-navel gazing for much of the chase, which was clearly a nerve training experience all round.
Rain Breaks and High Drama:
Then came the rain – the great leveler. When the covers came on, GT had a lead of eight runs ahead of the DLS par so at the time GT were 106 for 5 and MI’s par in the same number of overs was 98. When we resumed play, MI took 4 quick wickets for just 25 runs and the game was slipping away from GT until Sherfane Rutherford changed the momentum. He came into the game after being picked as the Impact Player, and made a cameo of 28 off just 15 balls including two critical boundaries which turned the game back in GT’s favour.
Final Over Madness:
The last over had everything – massive hits, no-balls and then an impossible run for the last ball. MI’s bowlers who had kept MI in the game until the last ball, could not get over the line with Hardik Pandya’s missed direct hit for the final ball to give GT, a wild celebration at the end of three wickets and move to the top of the points table in the IPL.
Final Thoughts:
So, what are the lessons of this madcap thriller? Cricket, like life, is at times decided by fractions. A small moment can be the tipping point providing the opportunity to win or lose. GT wrote their own ending with the victory, while MI will be thinking about where sharper fielding could have made the outcome change.
Did this match leave you inspired as well? What moment inspired you the most? Leave a comment, and if you love the adrenaline of cricket.