In a stunning collapse at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans were demolished by 99 runs by Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 action. GT’s innings folded for a paltry 100 while pursuing 200, exposing deep cracks in their batting lineup.
Matthew Hayden, GT’s batting coach, pulled no punches post-match. ‘The middle order’s weaknesses were on full display against MI,’ he stated. Highlighting the powerplay debacle, Hayden said, ‘Top-order failures create havoc for those below. Powerplays don’t win chases, but they can lose them – and we lost ours early.’
By the 4.4-over mark, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill were dismissed, thrusting an unprepared middle order into the fray. Hayden explained the tactical nuances: ‘Middle-order prep differs vastly from openers. They’re impact players – think Shahrukh Khan blasting at 180 strike rate off 7 balls. That’s gold. But we can’t expect Tewatia or Shahrukh to anchor innings; their training isn’t for that.’
Despite the talent in Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, and Glenn Phillips, they faltered under pressure. ‘Our unit thinks smart, with clear roles, but execution failed tonight,’ Hayden reflected.
MI’s Tilak Varma lit up with an unbeaten 101, helping them reach 199/5. Ashwani Kumar’s 4/24 dismantled GT. As Player of the Match, Tilak’s knock highlighted MI’s depth. For GT, this defeat is a wake-up call: fix the middle order or risk an early exit.
