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#IPL #familiar #middleorder #collapse #hurts #Gujarat #Titans">IPL 2026: A familiar middle-order collapse hurts Gujarat Titans yet again The familiar script played out yet again in this edition of the IPL as Gujarat Titans’ brittle middle-order caved in without a fight against the Mumbai Indians.
On a day when Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler failed to fire, none of the remaining Titans batters showed the resilience required in a demanding chase. The collective failure prompted batting coach Matthew Hayden to label it a “horrible day” for his side.
The most worrying aspect wasn’t just the defeat, but the manner of it. The Titans couldn’t even bat out their 20 overs, as their innings rapidly unravelled.
The result also dealt a blow to their Net Run Rate and reignited concerns over an under-performing middle-order comprising Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan.
Only Washington managed to score at a brisk rate, while Phillips and Tewatia struggled to get going and their strike rates were well below the demands of modern T20 cricket. “The middle order was undoubtedly exposed,” Hayden admitted, pointing to the early damage in the PowerPlay.
“The thing about the PowerPlays is that you can’t win from there, especially in a run chase, but you can definitely lose it. And we lost it in the PowerPlay,” Hayden said.
The early dismissals of Sai Sudharsan, Buttler and Gill left the middle order with too much to do — a scenario Hayden believes the side must avoid. He stressed that players like Tewatia and Shahrukh are built for impact, not accumulation, and sending them in too early only adds pressure.
So far, Shahrukh has scored 35 runs, while Tewatia has chipped in with just 49 runs. “We are putting a lot of pressure on the middle-order. When you look at how the middle-order operates, it’s vastly different from how the top three handle those preparations. They are batting for impact,” Hayden said.
Published on Apr 21, 2026
The familiar script played out yet again in this edition of the IPL as Gujarat…
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#working #yorker #swing #pacer #Ashwani #fourwicket #haul">I was working on my yorker, swing: MI pacer Ashwani after four-wicket haul
Young Mumbai Indians pacer Ashwani Kumar said he worked diligently on his yorkers and swing while waiting patiently for an opportunity, making the most of it with a four-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans.
After Tilak Varma’s 101 off 45 balls powered Mumbai Indians to 199 for 5, Ashwani, playing his first game of the season, returned figures of four for 24 as the visitors bowled out Gujarat Titans for 100 in 15.5 overs.
“I was working on my yorker, on my swing. I was just waiting. Whenever I got a chance, I would do well. Otherwise, I was going to the temple. That’s all I was doing,” the 24-year-old said during the post-match press conference.
“I had seen the batters before, how they play, but when I went in and saw them, I did what the wicket demanded. We discussed it with the captain and tried to execute accordingly.
“It’s a black-soil pitch, so we knew the ball would keep a bit low. In the first innings, the ball was moving a bit here and there. So our plan was to hit the right lengths and bowl according to what the surface demanded.”
With the 99-run victory, Mumbai Indians snapped a four-match losing streak to climb to seventh place in the standings.
“We were looking at the mistakes we had made and followed what the coaches were telling us,” Ashwani said. “Our mindset was not low, even though we were losing. The team remained very positive, even during that phase.”
Published on Apr 21, 2026
Young Mumbai Indians pacer Ashwani Kumar said he worked diligently on his yorkers and swing while waiting patiently for an opportunity, making the most of it with a four-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans.
After Tilak Varma’s 101 off 45 balls powered Mumbai Indians to 199 for 5, Ashwani, playing his first game of the season, returned figures of four for 24 as the visitors bowled out Gujarat Titans for 100 in 15.5 overs.
“I was working on my yorker, on my swing. I was just waiting. Whenever I got a chance, I would do well. Otherwise, I was going to the temple. That’s all I was doing,” the 24-year-old said during the post-match press conference.
“I had seen the batters before, how they play, but when I went in and saw them, I did what the wicket demanded. We discussed it with the captain and tried to execute accordingly.
“It’s a black-soil pitch, so we knew the ball would keep a bit low. In the first innings, the ball was moving a bit here and there. So our plan was to hit the right lengths and bowl according to what the surface demanded.”
With the 99-run victory, Mumbai Indians snapped a four-match losing streak to climb to seventh place in the standings.
“We were looking at the mistakes we had made and followed what the coaches were telling us,” Ashwani said. “Our mindset was not low, even though we were losing. The team remained very positive, even during that phase.”
Published on Apr 21, 2026
Young Mumbai Indians pacer Ashwani Kumar said he worked diligently on his yorkers and swing…
Sports news
#IPL #Tilak #Varma #roars #form #maiden #IPL #century">GT vs MI IPL 2026: Tilak Varma roars back to form with maiden IPL century
Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Varma smashed his maiden century in the IPL against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday.
It was a batting display of the highest order by Tilak after coming into bat when MI was reeling at 46/3 in six overs.
The middle order batter, who has not been in the best of form this season, struggled for timing and rhythm in the initial part of his innings but after the second strategic timeout, Tilak unleashed an array of shots and brought up his century with a boundary on the last ball of the innings.
The 23-year-old brought up his century in just 45 balls, which is the joint fastest century by an MI batter along with Sanath Jayasuriya.
Tilak’s barrage at the death, where MI scored 96 runs in six overs, helped the side post a formidable 200-run target for GT to chase.
Published on Apr 20, 2026
Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Varma smashed his maiden century in the IPL against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday.
It was a batting display of the highest order by Tilak after coming into bat when MI was reeling at 46/3 in six overs.
The middle order batter, who has not been in the best of form this season, struggled for timing and rhythm in the initial part of his innings but after the second strategic timeout, Tilak unleashed an array of shots and brought up his century with a boundary on the last ball of the innings.
The 23-year-old brought up his century in just 45 balls, which is the joint fastest century by an MI batter along with Sanath Jayasuriya.
Tilak’s barrage at the death, where MI scored 96 runs in six overs, helped the side post a formidable 200-run target for GT to chase.
Published on Apr 20, 2026
Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Varma smashed his maiden century in the IPL against Gujarat Titans at…
![GT vs MI IPL 2026: Tilak’s maiden century helps Mumbai Indians snap four game losing streak Tilak Varma found his form when it mattered most, producing a scintillating maiden IPL century to power Mumbai Indians to a commanding 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans on Monday.After a string of underwhelming outings, Tilak began cautiously before shifting gears dramatically, finishing unbeaten on 101 off 45 balls (8×4, 7×6).Much to the delight of a 40,000-strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he went on a rampage in the final six overs, smashing 82 runs off just 23 deliveries. Mumbai Indians plundered 96 runs in that phase to post a formidable 199 for five and seize complete control of the contest.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JRdBRAbIk[/embed]Tilak led the charge with ruthless precision, hammering 26 runs in an over from Ashok Sharma before dismantling Prasidh Krishna with calculated aggression.He reached his century with a boundary off the final ball of the innings, his animated celebration reflecting both relief and redemption. The knock also equalled the joint-fastest hundred for MI, matching Sanath Jayasuriya.In response, Gujarat Titans faltered early and never recovered. Jasprit Bumrah struck with the very first ball, removing Sai Sudharsan, and the middle order failed to deliver.With Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill falling cheaply, the chase lost direction as wickets fell at regular intervals. The Titans were eventually bowled out for 100, unable to mount any sustained resistance.ALSO READ:IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad hosts Delhi Capitals in clash of aggression and pragmatismIt was a dominant show from the Mumbai bowlers. Mitchell Santner marked his return with two key wickets, removing Washington Sundar and Glenn Phillips, while Impact substitute Ashwani Kumar kept the pressure on with four wickets. With the bowlers maintaining discipline, the Titans’ fragile middle-order was exposed once again.Earlier, Mumbai’s innings began shakily. Debutant Danish Malewar lasted just four deliveries, while Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav also fell early, leaving it at 45 for three in the Powerplay. Kagiso Rabada remained the biggest threat, consistently breaching the 150kph mark .However, the recovery was orchestrated by Naman Dhir, whose composed 45 laid the platform in a 52-run stand with Tilak Varma. Tilak then took complete control, while skipper Hardik Pandya provided stability in an 81-run stand, ensuring MI returned to winning ways after four successive defeats.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #IPL #Tilaks #maiden #century #helps #Mumbai #Indians #snap #game #losing #streak](https://i3.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/a3c5kk/article70886003.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/VIS_0109.JPG?ssl=1 "GT vs MI IPL 2026: Tilak’s maiden century helps Mumbai Indians snap four game losing streak Tilak Varma found his form when it mattered most, producing a scintillating maiden IPL century to power Mumbai Indians to a commanding 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans on Monday.After a string of underwhelming outings, Tilak began cautiously before shifting gears dramatically, finishing unbeaten on 101 off 45 balls (8×4, 7×6).Much to the delight of a 40,000-strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he went on a rampage in the final six overs, smashing 82 runs off just 23 deliveries. Mumbai Indians plundered 96 runs in that phase to post a formidable 199 for five and seize complete control of the contest.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58JRdBRAbIk[/embed]Tilak led the charge with ruthless precision, hammering 26 runs in an over from Ashok Sharma before dismantling Prasidh Krishna with calculated aggression.He reached his century with a boundary off the final ball of the innings, his animated celebration reflecting both relief and redemption. The knock also equalled the joint-fastest hundred for MI, matching Sanath Jayasuriya.In response, Gujarat Titans faltered early and never recovered. Jasprit Bumrah struck with the very first ball, removing Sai Sudharsan, and the middle order failed to deliver.With Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill falling cheaply, the chase lost direction as wickets fell at regular intervals. The Titans were eventually bowled out for 100, unable to mount any sustained resistance.ALSO READ:IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad hosts Delhi Capitals in clash of aggression and pragmatismIt was a dominant show from the Mumbai bowlers. Mitchell Santner marked his return with two key wickets, removing Washington Sundar and Glenn Phillips, while Impact substitute Ashwani Kumar kept the pressure on with four wickets. With the bowlers maintaining discipline, the Titans’ fragile middle-order was exposed once again.Earlier, Mumbai’s innings began shakily. Debutant Danish Malewar lasted just four deliveries, while Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav also fell early, leaving it at 45 for three in the Powerplay. Kagiso Rabada remained the biggest threat, consistently breaching the 150kph mark .However, the recovery was orchestrated by Naman Dhir, whose composed 45 laid the platform in a 52-run stand with Tilak Varma. Tilak then took complete control, while skipper Hardik Pandya provided stability in an 81-run stand, ensuring MI returned to winning ways after four successive defeats.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #IPL #Tilaks #maiden #century #helps #Mumbai #Indians #snap #game #losing #streak")
