In the high-stakes IPL Qualifiers 2 clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans, Mohit Sharma emerged as the game-changer with his brilliant spell of bowling. Mumbai Indians, despite posting a challenging first innings score of 233 runs, were looking to put pressure on the Gujarat Titans. It was in the 15th over when Hardik Pandya decided to introduce Mohit Sharma into the attack, and the move paid off immediately.
Mohit Sharma showcased his prowess with the ball as he claimed two crucial wickets in a single over, completely changing the momentum of the game. The first victim was the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav, who was dismissed in a dramatic fashion. Sharma delivered a gutsy full delivery that struck the stumps, leaving Suryakumar Yadav stunned. The Mumbai Indians dugout was visibly disappointed, as they knew Yadav was a key player who could have taken them closer to victory. The wicket proved to be a significant blow for the Mumbai Indians, and Mohit Sharma seemed grateful to the almighty for the breakthrough.
After Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal, Sharma struck again to claim the wicket of Vishnu Vinod. It was a soft dismissal as Sharma cleverly varied the pace and length, deceiving Vinod in the process. Vinod mistimed his shot and chipped the ball straight to Hardik Pandya at covers. Sharma’s second wicket in the over left everyone questioning why the Gujarat Titans had held him back for so long. Vishnu Vinod’s departure further dented Mumbai Indians’ hopes of a comeback.
But the drama didn’t end there. Rashid Khan, the star spinner of the Gujarat Titans, also made a significant impact on the match. He sent Tim David back to the pavilion with a brilliant googly that kept low. David attempted a big swing off the backfoot but missed the ball completely, resulting in him being trapped in front of the middle stump. The lbw decision was confirmed, and David had to depart for just 2 runs. In addition to losing his wicket, David also lost a review in the process.
With Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan wreaking havoc on the Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup, the Gujarat Titans had firmly taken control of the match. The wickets of Suryakumar Yadav, Vishnu Vinod, and Tim David had put the Mumbai Indians under immense pressure, and the game seemed to be slipping away from their grasp.
