IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya Back in Ahmedabad as MI, GT Battle for First Win in a Must-Watch Showdown

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IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya is back where the storm first began. Just over a year ago, he faced a chorus of boos from the Ahmedabad crowd—the same stands that had once celebrated his every move in Gujarat Titans’ title-winning campaign of 2022.

His switch from GT to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024 did not sit well with the fans, and the backlash followed him to almost every stadium. MI’s campaign, riddled with inconsistency and scrutiny, ended in despair as they finished at the bottom of the points table.

As per a report on Cricbuzz, A year later, the question remains—has Ahmedabad forgiven Pandya? The answer will unfold on Saturday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium when Mumbai Indians face Gujarat Titans. Since that last encounter, Pandya has added two ICC trophies to his cabinet—playing a pivotal role in India’s triumphs in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the recently concluded Champions Trophy.

"Fans Are Fans," Says Jayawardene

MI’s head coach Mahela Jayawardene is hopeful that the animosity towards Pandya has faded with time. “Fans are fans, and the emotions are part of it. I'm sure everyone’s gone beyond that, and it’s amazing to see how loyalty works even in the IPL, which is fascinating. I’ve enjoyed watching from outside. But I think, 12 months on, he’s achieved a lot more, and I’m sure that everyone will see beyond what happened last year," Jayawardene said ahead of the match.

However, Pandya’s primary focus will not be on public perception but on ensuring MI do not slip into their infamous trend of sluggish starts. Having already lost their opening game, MI face a GT side that fell agonizingly short in a record run chase against Punjab Kings.

Pandya’s Return and MI’s Batting Challenge

Pandya, who missed MI’s first match, will be a central figure both with bat and ball. But all eyes will also be on Rohit Sharma, who started his season with a duck in Chennai. Facing a fiery GT pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, Rohit’s partnership with Ryan Rickelton will set the tone. The middle-order trio of Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Pandya himself must navigate GT’s spin duo—Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore. With a par score of around 210-215 expected at this venue, Mumbai’s batting execution will be critical.

Gujarat Titans: One Batter Short?

Despite their loss to PBKS, Shubman Gill’s GT remains a formidable force. New recruits Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, and Rabada bolster the squad, but the team’s composition appeared a batter short in their last outing. Their susceptibility to wide yorkers was ruthlessly exposed by Punjab’s Vyshak Vijaykumar, a flaw MI will look to exploit.

Tactical Battles and Team Strategies

GT are likely to persist with Rutherford, though Washington Sundar might replace Arshad Khan. Mohammed Siraj and Rabada will be key against Rohit, while the Rashid-Suryakumar match-up could be game-defining.

For MI, Pandya’s inclusion could see Robin Minz make way, while young pacer Vignesh Puthur, a surprise package in the first game, may feature as an Impact Player. The battle between MI’s pacers—Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar—and GT’s top order, particularly Gill and Sai Sudharsan, will be one to watch.

Match Details

• When: Saturday, March 29, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
• Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• Weather: Hot conditions with heavy dew in the second innings, making chasing the preferred strategy.

Head-to-Head Record

GT lead the head-to-head 3-2, having won all three encounters at this venue, including Qualifier 2 in 2023. Notably, each of their five matches has been won by the team batting first.

Did You Know?

• Pandya led GT to their maiden title here in 2022 with a Player of the Match performance in the final.
• MI’s previous campaign began with a six-run defeat at this venue, marking Pandya’s first match as full-time captain.
• GT had the worst middle-order stats in IPL 2024 and remain top-heavy in IPL 2025.
• Spinners have struggled in second innings here, with an economy rate above 12 in recent matches.

What They Said

GT assistant coach Parthiv Patel: “No one has asked how well Shreyas (Iyer) batted, no one spoke about how Shashank Singh finished the innings. It was about how Vijaykumar Vyshak and Arshdeep (Singh) bowled. At the end of the day, one or two overs make a huge difference.”

MI coach Mahela Jayawardene: “Just a skill set. He is still learning. That’s a good thing about him. And we just felt that whether it’s the last game or whether it’s the 10th game or whether it’s next year, he was always going to play for Mumbai.”

With both teams seeking their first win, the stage is set for a blockbuster contest—one that could see Pandya’s redemption arc come full circle in Ahmedabad.