The Gujarat Titans (GT) bowed out of IPL 2025 after a 20-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator at Mullanpur, ending their campaign despite a strong league performance.
Here are the three key reasons behind their elimination:
1. Jos Buttler’s Absence and Batting Instability
Jos Buttler was a pillar for GT in the league stage, amassing 538 runs in 13 matches at an average of 59.78 and a strike rate of 163.03.
His explosive starts and synergy with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan formed the backbone of GT’s batting.
Buttler’s departure due to national commitments left a significant void. His replacement, Kusal Mendis, failed to make an impact, dropping crucial catches and scoring just 20 runs in the Eliminator.
The Titans’ batting, heavily reliant on their top three, faltered under pressure without Buttler, making the steep chase of 229 even more daunting.
2. Bowling and Fielding Failures in Key Moments
GT’s fielding was notably poor in the Eliminator, with three straightforward catches dropped, including two reprieves to Rohit Sharma, who capitalized with a match-winning 81.
Captain Shubman Gill openly acknowledged that dropping three sitters made it extremely difficult for the bowlers to contain Mumbai’s batters.
Rashid Khan, usually GT’s trump card, endured a rough season, taking just nine wickets at an average of 57.11 and conceding 31 runs in his four overs during the Eliminator without a breakthrough.
The pacers, especially Prasidh Krishna and Gerald Coetzee, were expensive and failed to deliver under pressure.
Prasidh, despite a strong season overall, was used in the powerplay rather than his preferred middle-overs role, leading to costly overs and a lack of early breakthroughs.
3. Strategic and Tactical Missteps
GT’s bowling strategy was criticized as reactive rather than proactive. Former players and analysts pointed out that deploying Prasidh Krishna in the powerplay, despite his success in the middle overs, backfired and was not corrected in time.
The Titans’ inability to adapt their plans when Mumbai’s openers attacked, combined with their fielding lapses, allowed MI to post a daunting total.
As the pressure mounted, the Titans’ death bowling and decision-making under pressure did not match up to the demands of a high-stakes knockout game.
