Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya (Source:@FearlessSanju,x.com)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Eliminator between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday was no shortage of drama. In what many fans are calling a sign of rising tensions, MI’s Hardik Pandya and GT skipper Shubman Gill shared a visibly awkward exchange at the toss.
Hardik’s Aggressive Celebration After Gill's Wicket
Neither Hardik Pandya nor Gill initiated the customary handshake ahead of the high-stakes encounter at the New Chandigarh Stadium. The brief moment, captured live, immediately caught viewers’ attention and gave rise to numerous rifts between the two Indian stars.
While such tension is not uncommon in the heat of IPL playoff battles, things increased when Gill, opening the chase for GT, was dismissed for just 1 off 2 balls. As Gill began walking off, Pandya broke into an animated celebration running in his direction and punching the air.
Fans took to social media, speculating whether the lack of handshake and the on-field reaction reflected an 'ego clash' between the two players.
The Match In Numbers And Milestones
Despite a rocky start that saw both Gill and Kusal Mendis (20) fall cheaply, GT briefly found hope through a composed partnership between Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar. Their 84-run stand helped stabilise the innings and kept the Titans in the chase of MI’s challenging 229-run target.
But as MI searched for a breakthrough, it was Jasprit Bumrah who once again delivered when it mattered most. He bowled a sensational yorker to dismiss Sundar in the 14th over, effectively turning the tide back in Mumbai's favour. GT couldn’t recover from the blow and eventually fell 20 runs short.
At the forefront of MI's innings was Rohit Sharma, who delivered a timely 81 runs off 50 balls. He also reached two personal milestones during the game: becoming the first Indian to smash 300 sixes in IPL history and crossing 7,000 IPL runs.
MI will now face PBKS in Qualifier 2 on Sunday, with a spot in the final and a chance to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the line.
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