Gujarat Titans’ First IPL 2025 Victory Comes from Defeating Mumbai Indians by 36 Runs

Gujarat Titans clinched their first victory in IPL 2025 by overcoming the Mumbai Indians (MI) by 36 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Batting Wins the Game for GT

GT faced no trouble, as they comfortably managed 196 runs with 8 wickets taken in the 20 overs. Sai Sudharsan managed the innings, while both Shubman Gill (38) and Jos Buttler (39) played their parts. Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia’s cameos played a major impact as wickets fell regularly.

A Slow But Steady Chase by MI

MI’s chase began on a rough note as they lost Rohit Sharma early to Mohammed Siraj. Suryakumar Yadav struggled but managed a strong 48 runs off 28 balls. With Siraj and Prasidh Krishna’s amazing bowling skills, the rest of MI struggled as well. Hardik Pandya’s poor performance during the middle overs did not help MI's cause either, and at the end they fell short, scoring 160 with 8 wickets taken.

Also read:Watch: Hardik Pandya fight with Sai Kishore IPL 2025

Key Performances

• Sai Sudharsan (GT): Crucial innings refresher.
• Suryakumar Yadav (MI): Tried to keep MI stable, scored 48.
• Mohammed Siraj (GT): Smashed both Yadav and Sharma’s wickets early in the game.
• Prasidh Krishna (GT): Minimized MI’s scoring during the middle overs.

Post-Match Reactions

Mumbai Indians Captain, Hardik Pandya:
"It was a hard-fought game. The team showed great resilience, especially after our previous loss. Our bowlers executed the plans well, and the batsmen held their nerve during the chase. This win boosts our confidence moving forward.

Gujarat Titans Captain, Shubman Gill:
"Disappointed with the result. We were in the game till the end but couldn't capitalize on key moments. Credit to MI for their performance. We'll analyze our mistakes and come back stronger in the next match.

Also read:Suryakumar Yadav hit on helmet by Prasidh Krishna’s fiery bouncer

Player of the Match, Suryakumar Yadav:
"Happy to contribute to the team's victory. After being hit on the helmet, I took a moment to compose myself. The support from teammates helped me regain focus and see the game through.

Both teams acknowledged the competitive spirit of the game and emphasized learning from this encounter as they progress in the tournament.

Narendra Modi Stadium Mishap:

During the encounter on March 25 at the Modi Stadium located in Ahmadabad, Stoinis hit a massive six off the bowling of Mohammed Siraj, achieving it over deep mid-wicket. The ball unfortunately struck a waitress on duty and hit her. Medics were called in, and after a brief examination, she was allowed to resume work.

pic.twitter.com/iFC2Zw8MdI

— kuchnahi123@12345678 (@kuchnahi1269083) March 25, 2025

Also read:-SRH vs LSG : Weather and Pitch report

Match Highlights:

Stoinis scored 20 off 15 balls, including two sixes and a four, to ensure comprehensiveness of PBKS's 243 runs total. This was greatly helped by Shreyas Iyer's astonishing knock of 97 runs off 42 balls. Gujarat Titans fought hard but fell short by 11 runs, earning them a great victory. Even with the setback, the incident served to showcase the might of Stoinis' batting alongside the need for greater attention on-field security staff.

Mohammed Siraj, who faced the odyssey of being a benchwarmer during the most significant match of the 2025 Champions Trophy (CT 2025), talked about the incident. He explained that Rohit Sharma’s mastermind plan was to support the spinners over the pacers and was purely based on the pitch conditions and what was best for the team.

Rohit’s Decision to Exclude Siraj:

Siraj, showing respect and insightful opinion of the mode of Rohit Sharma’s decision, gave a comment, “Rohit bhai does what is best for the team. He had so much experience and knew that pacers wouldn’t be effective on that track. He knew spinners would be more useful, and that’s why they decided to snub me.” It is noteworthy that this showcased his cunning cognition due to cricket and ability to make challenging decisions when the team called for them.

Mohammed Siraj opens up about his omission from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad. 🇮🇳🏆

What are your thoughts on his exclusion? 🤔#Cricket #Siraj #India #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/JiMoTbWFhl

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 25, 2025

Also read:Shreyas Iyer's most destructive overs in IPL history

Spinners Shine in CT 2025:

The move by Rohit was great in that India used spinners in almost all of the friendly tracks, and they won these matches. It was an illustration of his in-depth analysis of the conditions, grounded by his game face, which helped India earn a spot in the competition.

The comments by Siraj reveal his unselfish attitude and the reason why India, a collective of individualistic players, continues to be an intact and solid team under Rohit's captaincy.

The Indian Premier League has transformed the lives of many cricketers from any financial backgrounds to financially secure lives. Some of the biggest IPL stars had to face financial hardships before making it big. Here are a few inspiring stories of cricketers who turned from rags to riches through the IPL..

1. Ravindra Jadeja - From RS.10 a Day to International Cricket stardom

Ravindra Jadeja's growing years were in a family below the poverty line in Gujarat, where his father was a security guard. Sometimes, during Jadeja's early cricketing days, he managed to survive on just Rs. 10 per day. It was in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup that this talent shone, and he got to represent the Rajasthan Royals in the first season of the IPL. His all-round talents bagged him a whopping Rs. 16 crore deal with Chennai Super Kings in 2023, moving him from a boy of little means to an IPL and international cricket star.

2. Hardik Pandya - Struggles to Stardom

He and his family lived in a small house in Baroda, and they faced vicious financial struggles. His father did odd jobs in order to support his cricket training. At one time, Hardik Pandya and his brother Krunal survived on Maggi noodles because there was no money. The spark he showed in domestic cricket made the Mumbai Indians notice him, and he was bought for a mere ₹10 lakh in 2015. Soon, however, he became a millionaire through his performances on the pitch, and in 2022, Gujarat Titans signed him for a whopping ₹15 crore, making him one of the highest-paid IPL players.

3. T. Natarajan - From a Village Boy to IPL Hero 

Hailing From Chinnappampatti, a small village in Tamil Nadu, his journey to the IPL is filled with hardship. His father had been a daily wager, and his mother managed a roadside food stall. The family financial situation almost made him quit cricket, but determined, T. Natarajan kept going. His big break came in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, which won him an IPL contract with Kings XI Punjab in 2017. Later, in 2020, Sunrisers Hyderabad chose him for ₹40 lakhs, making him a yorker specialist and earning a call to India.

4. Mohammed Siraj - From auto driver's son to IPL millionaire

Mohammed Siraj, the son of an auto rickshaw driver in Hyderabad, grew up in abject poverty. His father toiled tirelessly to make sure that cricket did not remain just a dream for his son. His real life began in 2017 when he was bought for ₹2.6 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Later, he was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore. His earnings reached ₹7 crore in every season by 2022. Today, Siraj is a key player for India and a role model for aspiring cricketers from underprivileged backgrounds.

Also Read: India vs New Zealand Final, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Live Streaming & Where to Watch?

5. Rinku Singh - From Struggling Laborer to IPL Sensation

Rinku Singh’s life, too, is an inspiring tale of grit and determination. His father was a delivery man for an LPG company, and he lived in a small home with his family. After years of hardship and scuffle, he was finally chosen in IPL by Kolkata Knight Riders. In IPL 2023, he gave his life a great boost when, in the last over, he cracked five sixes to win the match. From there, his fortune and fame skyrocketed, and he has credited that for securing his family's future.

6. Yashasvi Jaiswal - From Selling Pani Puri to IPL Stardom

This journey of Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the most touching in cricket. He came to Mumbai as a child to realize his dreams of becoming a cricketer, but the prospect of living there was daunting. He lived in a tent near Azad Maidan, selling pani puris to make ends meet. He kept on playing despite all the hardships and eventually impressed in domestic cricket. Rajasthan Royals picked him for ₹2.4 crore in 2020, and in 2023, he emerged as one among the IPL's top young stars.

IPL is more than just a cricket tournament; it is a platform that changes lives. These cricketers have shown that talent, perseverance, and hard work can help in getting through any obstacle. Their stories, moving from poverty to riches, inspire millions of aspiring cricketers worldwide.

Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj is currently the subject of multiple rumours of dating. After he was recently in the news for dating Zanai Bhosle, the Indian pacer is in another news story about dating a Bigg Boss star.

According to a recent ETimes report, Mohammed Siraj has been dating Bigg Boss 13 fame Mahira Sharma. The Times of India claimed that a source close to the couple confirmed this dating news. The report added that their connection started last November.

According to the report, Siraj liked one social media post of Mahira Sharma and started following each other, which can’t be hidden from the fans. Their dating rumours started to spark from this little gesture.

See Also: Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy 2025 Match: Live streaming details, where to watch

Who is Mahira Sharma?

Mahira Sharma is popular as an actress. She has acted in some Hindi and Punjabi television shows. After making her debut in Yaaron Ka Tashan in 2017, she worked in the popular TV shows Naagin in 2018, Bepanah Pyar and Kundali Bhagya in 2019. She worked in the 2023 Punjabi film LehmberGinni and recently released Raduaa Returns. Sharma has also been featured in many music videos. In the Bigg Boss 13 in 2019, she was the finalist. 

This news is completely false: Mahira Sharma's mother denied

However, Mahira Sharma’s mother, Sania Sharma, has completely denied the dating news. She told Times Now, “What are you saying? There is nothing like that. People say anything. Now that my daughter is a celebrity, people will link her name with anyone, so should we believe them? This news is completely false.”

Recently, Siraj was also in the news for dating Zanai Bhosle, granddaughter of the legendary singer Asha Bhosle. The rumour sparked after Zanai shared her birthday bash pictures, where Siraj was present. However, soon, both of them closed the dating rumours by calling each other brother and sister.

Mohammed Siraj dropped from ODI squad

The 30-year-old Indian right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj recently finished the Australia tour as the second leading wicket-taker for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with 20 wickets. However, he has been dropped from the ODI squad as he will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The right-arm pacer is likely to appear in the last round of the group stage of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. 

The last round of the group stage of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is around the corner. While the final round of the league stage will begin on Thursday (January 30), we have some important reports on the availabilities of the national team players. Here, we are going through these reports. 

Virat Kohli is set for Ranji Trophy return

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is set to serve for Delhi. It will be his first match in the Ranji Trophy in the last 12 years. He last played a Ranji Trophy match in November 2012 against Uttar Pradesh. Kohli is set to train with the Delhi team from Tuesday (January 28).

See Also: Top 5 highest run-scorers in the Ranji Trophy history

KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja are also likely to play

KL Rahul is set to serve for Karnataka, who will face the Elite Group C table-toppers Haryana. He last played a Ranji Trophy match in February 2020. On the other hand, the Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj is set to return to the Ranji Trophy. 

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who just returned to the Ranji Trophy to play against Delhi and won the Player of the Match award after picking up 12 wickets, will continue his service for Saurashtra. 

Rishabh Pant and Mumbai stars are likely to miss

On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, who served for Delhi in their last Ranji Trophy round match against Saurashtra, is unlikely to play the last round.

Indian Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, who just returned to the Ranji Trophy almost a decade later, will miss out on the forthcoming last round of the group stage along with the Mumbai and national teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer. 

Centurion Shubman Gill likely to unavailable

Punjab cricketer Shubman Gill, the vice-captain of the Indian ODI team, is also reportedly unavailable for the last round of the group stage in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. The right-handed batter scored a century (102) against Karnataka in the latest Ranji Trophy round, where Punjab suffered an innings defeat despite Gill's heroic century.

Mohammed Siraj, who plays cricket for India, and Zanai Bhosle, who is the granddaughter of the unfathomably famous singer Asha Bhosle, are getting a lot of attention on the internet because of a picture. Zanai put up a photo on her Instagram when she turned 23 in Mumbai, and it was from her birthday. The picture shows Mohammed and Zanai close together, and now everyone is trying to figure out if they may potentially especially like each other.

In Mumbai, at Bandra, there was a major birthday party. Several famous people came, including the singer Asha Bhosle, the movie star Jackie Shroff, and cricket players Shreyas Iyer, Siddhesh Lad, and Suyash Prabhudessai. A girl Zanai put a large amount of pictures online, and one of them showed her speaking enjoyably with Siraj.

People saw them and typed so many comments. They were trying to guess if they were possibly special to each other. Siraj and Zanai Bhosle haven't said if the dating rumors are true. But Siraj never really discusses his personal things in public. He doesn't say things about guesses such as that.

Zanai Bhosle is getting ready to be in her first movie about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Mohammed Siraj is very well-known in Indian cricket. Everyone is discussing a picture of them that became famous on the internet. But we don't know definitively if they're more than only buddies because they haven't told

 us anything yet.

ALSO READ:Tilak Varma Shatters Virat Kohli's T20 Record: The Rise of a New Star

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Zanai Bhosle💜 (@zanaibhosle)

 

 

 

Indian fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj, who has just been excluded from India's ODI squad for the England series and the Champions Trophy, will also miss the upcoming Ranji Trophy match.

He is likely to miss Hyderabad’s match against Himachal Pradesh on January 23rd, report says due to workload he (Mohammed Siraj) won’t be able to play the upcoming match of Ranji but will feature in the final group game against Vidarbha. 

According to reports, a Hyderabad Cricket Association official said, “He has some workload concerns so will not play the first game, But will play the last game of final group vs Vidarbha”. 

Why was Siraj not picked up for the Champions Trophy squad?

Despite playing a recent test series - the Border Gavaskar Trophy and top-ranked ODI bowler in the ICC ranking chart, Siraj didn’t make himself in the Champions Trophy. Since 2023, he has taken 47 wickets in the 50-over format.

Also Read: Watch: Captain Rohit Sharma assures India's best attempt to win ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Nevertheless, Indian captain Rohit Sharma doesn’t believe in Siraj's potential as he said in a recent press conference with selector Ajit Agarkar. 

He said. "Siraj's effectiveness comes down when the ball gets older".

So, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar decided to select Arshdeep Singh instead of Mohammed Siraj. 

Indian squads for the home ODI series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have been announced on Saturday (January 18). However, the experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj has been surprisingly dropped from both squads. In the press conference, Indian captain Rohit Sharma hinted why the 30-year-old right-arm fast bowler isn’t in the ODI team. 

India are set for the home five-match T20I series against England, starting on January 22. Then India will host a three-match ODI series against England before traveling to Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19.

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah doubtful for the England ODI series

Mohammed Siraj took 20 wickets in Australia

Mohammed Siraj has missed out on all the white-ball squads for the upcoming assignments. Although he took 20 wickets in the recently completed Test series in Australia and finished as the fourth most wicket-taker in the series, he has been criticised for underperforming on that tour. 

Siraj was the star of the Asia Cup 2023 (ODI format) Final against Sri Lanka, where his six-wicket haul destroyed the Lankan team for only 50 runs. After that match, Siraj took 18 wickets in 15 ODIs with an average of 38.55 and an economy rate of 5.95. 

It’s unfortunate if he misses out: Rohit Sharma on Mohammed Siraj

In the press conference, Indian captain Rohit Sharma clarified that they wanted a helpful bowler who can be effective with both the new and old balls. While Siraj’s effectiveness comes down with the older ball, the Indian captain has chosen the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has 12 wickets in eight ODIs. Arshdeep likes to dominate in the early powerplay as well as in the slog overs with his incredible swing and yorker deliveries. 

Rohit said, “Siraj’s effectiveness comes down if he doesn’t use the new ball. It’s unfortunate if he misses out.” 

Siraj has taken 100 wickets in 36 Tests, 71 wickets in 44 ODIs, and 14 wickets in 16 T20Is.