The tradition of the first-innings team winning the Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Mumbai Indians (MI) matches continued. The Shubman Gill-led side thumped Hardik Pandya’s return to Ahmedabad by smashing MI by 36 runs. GT have finally opened their account for IPL 2025, while Mumbai is still searching for their maiden win and also a correct team combination. Hardik Pandya made a wrong team choice when he replaced last match’s hero, Vignesh Puthur, with Mujeeb ur Rahman. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma continued his horrible IPL form. Elsewhere, there were reports saying that Shubman Gill could replace Rohit as the Test captain. On the note, let us look at the top cricketing news from Saturday, March 29.
Good news for KKR
Good news for KKR fans! Sunil Narine, who missed the last game due to illness, is improving and is expected to be available for the upcoming match against the Mumbai Indians on March 31. Narine was spotted practicing hard at Wankhede Stadium, hinting at his likely return. In his absence, KKR played Moeen Ali against RR. Ali did well with the ball but failed with the willow. It seems likely that Narine will take the field against MI. Read more here.
Shubman Gill to replace Rohit Sharma?
Rohit Sharma’s participation in the India vs England series remains uncertain. Despite reports suggesting he’ll play, a decision will only be made by mid-May, considering his fitness. If Rohit misses out, Shubman Gill is likely to lead India. Gill is already the ODI vice-captain and is seen as a long-term option in the longer format. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness is also a problem, with no clarity on his return from a back injury sustained in December. Read more here.
Bad decision by Hardik Pandya?
Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya’s decision to drop Vignesh Puthur, who impressed on debut, backfired as MI lost to Gujarat Titans by 36 runs. Pandya chose experience over promise, opting for Mujeeb Ur Rahman instead. However, Mujeeb only bowled 2 overs, and MI missed the firepower of Will Jacks, who was benched to accommodate Mujeeb. The decision proved costly on a spin-helpful pitch, where Vignesh’s skills and unknown factor could have made a difference.
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Record created by Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has broken David Warner’s record to become the second-fastest batter to score 1000 runs at a single IPL venue, achieving the feat in 20 innings at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Gill’s average and strike rate at this venue are massively higher than his overall IPL career statistics. He averages 60 and strikes at 160 in Ahmedabad, with three of his four IPL hundreds coming at this ground. Gill’s impressive record continues to grow at his home venue. He still has five IPL 2025 games remaining there! Read more here.
Riyan Parag has Dravid’s backing
Riyan Parag is getting a thumbs-up from Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid, despite the team’s poor start to the IPL season. Parag, who’s leading the team in Sanju Samson’s absence, has impressed Dravid with his calmness, decision-making, and cricketing brain. Dravid praises Parag’s brave decisions, like bringing himself on to bowl in a crucial situation. With Samson still out, Parag will continue to lead RR for their next game vs CSK tonight and Dravid believes this experience will be invaluable for the young captain. Read more here.
Poor Rohit Sharma in IPL!
Rohit Sharma’s IPL woes continue to baffle. Despite being one of the most dominant forces in international cricket, Rohit’s IPL numbers tell a different story. Since 2020, he averages a mere 24.8 in 71 innings, with a strike rate of 131.9. His latest flop show against Gujarat Titans, where he managed just 8 runs off 4 balls, has left fans scratching their heads. With 80 single-digit dismissals, Rohit tops the list of most single-digit scores in IPL history. Read more here.
