IPL 2025: Coldplay from Gujarat Titans as they choke Mumbai Indians to death in own den

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Might versus bright, if that be the title for the clash between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, it was fascinating to watch Ashish Nehraji plot the downfall of the five-time IPL champions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Saturday night's headbangers ball.

Before you think this is any reference to the Coldplay concert held at the same venue some weeks ago, the arena rocked. No, the music was not played by men with mikes, drums and more accompaniments.

This was an IPL match, where the hype had to be high. For those who think the premier T20 domestic tournament in India is about ferocious batting alone, that is myopic vision.

On a black soil pitch which is not what the Mumbai team is used to, their top gun batters, at least on paper, fell like tyros. For those who think 30s and 40s are enough, what Tilak Varma (39) and even Suryakumar Yadav did (48) were poor efforts after 'Mumbai Chaa Raja' Rohit Sharma perished at the top for eight runs.

The thread in these dismissals, abysmal ones that, was how the GT fast bowlers came out firing on the battle front. For those who know a thing or two about coaching and how imports have flooded the IPL market, Ashish Nehra has played a big role for GT, as Gujarat Titans are known.

There are many Aussie coaches and some from even Sri Lanka and New Zealand holding top jobs as bosses of coaching/mentoring the IPL teams. Leading from the front like a battle solider he always was when he played for India, Nehra ensured he would unleash Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma and Prasidh Krishna to destroy the Mumbai Indians.

This was no less than dynamic than a Coldplay concert which even belted out a song for Jasprit Bumrah at a packed showing in January 2025, where ticket prices were beyond the reach of many youngsters. And, yet, watching Coldplay was a must, for the music they produce is iconic.

Look at the irony, the same Bumrah is injured, unable to play for Mumbai Indians. And it was the Gujarat Titans foursome who showed with skills like 'pitch up and attack stumps' under the arc lights, where the downfall of MI was plotted.

The template was Nehraji's and the execution was done by GT skipper Shubman Gill, who has been thrust upon leadership even by the BCCI. After all, he is the ODI vice-captain of India.

Indeed, there is something lackadaisical about MI's efforts these days., It began last year when the MI management decided Hardik Pandya would be a better captain than Rohit Sharma, as a future plan. That move seems to have backfired, though to blame Pandya for it is wrong.

Last year, he spent more than half the IPL 2024 season dealing with social media trolls. Some felt, Rohit was the obvious choice. Yes, MI have won five IPL titles. That is in the past, as the future looks tense. Imagine, a side packed with big stars of Indian cricket cannot get its act together.

It also shows MI mentor/head Mahela Jayawardene in very poor light. Had the owners been like a Sanjiv Goenka, he would have been booted out by now.

Back to the GT bowling attack, the two main protagonists who led to MI's agony were Siraj, disrespected, disregarded and not considered for the BGT Series. He has made peace with himself and decided he has to keep proving himself. And the way he bowled and took two wickets in Ahmedabad was lovely to watch.

When you dismantle your own India skipper's wicket and the crowds erupt, it is high decibel inside the IPL cauldron. For those who think Rohit is a casual artist in the IPL, you cannot do a damn. He has led India to two ICC titles within nine months, so that swagger will be there.

It is up to the other MI batters to step up, where SKY, now a failed batter and Hardik Pandya will have to keep delivering. Sad, this, since MI spends so much on players. And all are not 'best buys' at a reduction sale called the IPL auction.

Hero 2 for GT has to be Prasidh Krishna, who again showed he is mean and hungry. This young man paid the price for no fault of his during the BGT Series when coach Gautam Gambhir overlooked him.

Krishna was happy and bowled mesmerisingly for an analysis of 4-0-18-2, which is massive in the IPL where batters are in beast-mode . For the GT side to not attempt the 300 stuff and stick to a plan of scoring below 200 and then attack was refreshing. They had a pace back up as well, though Kagiso Rabada and Ishant Sharma were not that effective.

Overall, the GT bowling strategy worked. GT choked MI to death, with Rashid Khan not to be forgotten, as they could score only 160 runs with four wickets in hand! What kind of strategy was this, please answer, MI.