Ahmedabad, April 21: In a recent IPL 2026 match at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, the batting lineup of Gujarat Titans (GT) was critically exposed against Mumbai Indians (MI). It is widely believed that GT’s success hinges on the performance of their top three batsmen. Unfortunately, their top order faltered, leading to a significant 99-run defeat.
Batting coach Matthew Hayden acknowledged the middle order’s struggles following the match.
During the post-match press conference, Hayden stated, “Today, our middle order was exposed. The failure of the top order created challenges for the rest of the team. In powerplays, you cannot secure a win, especially during a run chase, but you can certainly lose. We lost it right in the powerplay.”
Notably, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill were dismissed within just 4.4 overs.
Hayden added, “We are putting a lot of pressure on our middle order. When you consider how the middle order is managed and prepared, it is quite different from how the top three approach their game. They are batting for impact. You know, when you send Shah Rukh Khan in, I don’t know the number, but if you get 7 balls and are batting at a strike rate of 180, your season is going great.”
He continued, “Shah Rukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, and Glenn Phillips are struggling. We shouldn’t allow Tewatia or Khan to face too many balls. That’s not their role, and they aren’t trained for it. We are a well-thought-out batting unit. Everyone has their roles, and they usually fulfill them, but they couldn’t do that in this match.”
Mumbai Indians posted a total of 199 runs for 5 wickets, thanks to Tilak’s unbeaten 101 runs, while restricting GT to just 100 runs, securing a 99-run victory. Tilak was named Player of the Match, and Ashwani Kumar from MI took 4 wickets for just 24 runs in his 4 overs.
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