After winning three consecutive games in IPL 2026, GT were in for a rude shock at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The hosts were given a brutal reality check by 5-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI), as the visitors ended their 4-match losing streak in style. GT won the toss and elected to bowl first, and had the measure of MI till the 14th over. But from that point on, it was all MI, thanks to Tilak Varma, and then the bowlers, led by Ashwani Kumar, put in a grand performance to thrash GT in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of this clash, MI had not beaten GT in Ahmedabad, with the hosts leading 4-0 coming into this clash. But it all changed in the blink of an eye in front of us as GT were thoroughly outplayed by MI. There were massive areas where GT lagged, and we will list them for you.
Inability to contain Tilak Varma in the last 6 overs costs GT the momentum
GT started well with the ball as they got the early wickets of Danish Malewar, Quinton de Kock, and Suryakumar Yadav in the power play, with Kagiso Rabada coming to the party and nipping out three wickets in the power play. MI were 46/3 after the power play overs. Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma steadied the proceedings and upped the run rate a little bit as MI started to claw their way back on a challenging track. Naman fell when the score was 96 in the 13th over as MI were 103/4 in 14 overs with Tilak batting at that stage unbeaten on 19 off 22 balls.
In the strategic time out, Hardik shouted at Tilak, which acted as a motivation for the southpaw and then in the last 6 overs, he turned it on. Hardik was going at less than a run a ball, but Tilak’s beast mode was activated, and he tore apart GT bowlers single-handedly. It was a one-man show. Tilak hit Ashok Sharma for 26 runs to turn the momentum in their favour, and even Rashid was clobbered for 15 runs in one over. Prasidh Krishna was taken to the cleaners as well.
MI made 96 in the back 6 overs with Hardik making 15 off 16 balls and Sherfane Rutherford unbeaten on 1 off 2 balls. It was Tilak all the way, and GT had no answers to his brilliance. The southpaw completed his ton in 45 balls, the joint fastest by a MI player, equal with Sanath Jayasuriya, who did it in 2008. GT bowlers lacked the precision in the death overs and gave the match away, and that is something they will look to work on and get better at in the coming matches.
Losing wickets at regular intervals, especially to Ashwani Kumar, dents GT badly
In the chase of 200 on a challenging batting track, GT faced a horrendous start as Sai Sudharsan fell for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings to Jasprit Bumrah. Hardik Pandya removed Jos Buttler for 5 off 6 balls, while Shubman Gill, the captain, after getting double digits, fell for 14 off 13 balls to Ashwani Kumar. GT were 40/3 in the 5th over and inside the power play with the top 3 back in the hut. This game now was as good as over from hereon.
GT do not have the wherewithal and personnel in the team to take the side through or rescue the others, other than the top 3. The top 3 scores account for around 70% of the total runs by GT. It means that the middle order is brittle, and if early wickets go in a tall chase, the team can collapse. This is what has been happening with this team. Ashwani Kumar got into the act and chipped away at the wickets. Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar were amongst the wickets as well. An all-round bowling display, set up by Tilak Varma with the bat.
GT has a middle-order problem to address, and they have no solution at the moment. So, the aim will be for the top 3 and one of them to bat deep, and that’s been their motto for them in the last two seasons. The overdependence on the trio is not ideal, but it is what it is. GT will be hoping they get their mojo back soon and treat this game against MI as a one-off. It was an off-day, and they struggled in all the departments there.
Sai Sudharsan’s lack of form this season is a concern for GT
Speaking of the top three, one of its integral members in the GT line-up is short of runs and out of form as well. We are talking about last season’s Orange Cap winner, as Sai had a stellar season last time around. But Sai hasn’t started well this season. With GT banking heavily on their top 3, it is imperative that Sai comes back into form. At the moment, he is getting a few starts but not contributing anything meaningful. It’s putting pressure on captain Gill and keeper batter Jos Buttler, both of whom have found their mojo.
Sai hasn’t quite hit the ground running, considering the standards he has set. He is a talented cricketer. There has been just one significant knock from Sai this season, and that was against RR in Ahmedabad, where Sudharsan scored 73 off 44 balls in the absence of Shubman Gill, who missed that game due to injury. Apart from that 73, it has been a barren run for the southpaw. A few starts like a 20-odd here and there, but nothing substantial to say the least.
For the GT team to do well, Sai Sudharsan has to get back into form, or else the whole pressure goes to Buttler and Gill. One cannot post or chase totals depending on two individuals. Sai has the technique and temperament; he needs confidence to get his mojo back. If he achieves it, then GT will be back on track, as they have fallen away in the standings and NRR has taken a beating. Sai needs motivation, and GT will try to provide that so that he roars back into form.
What Lies Ahead
With this win, MI have climbed from 10th in the table to 7th in the points table. GT stays in 6th position with the NRR taking a beating. MI next faces arch-rivals CSK in Mumbai on April 23rd, 2026, while GT are in action the following day against RCB in Bengaluru on Friday, 24th April, 2026. Next up in IPL 2026 will be a mid-table clash later tonight as SRH hosts DC in Hyderabad.
So, a lot of action is coming our way in IPL 2026 as matches come thick and fast at this time of the season.
Also Read: GT vs MI: Tilak Varma’s Ton & Ashwani Kumar’s 4-Wicket Haul Derails GT