IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya opens up on three-wicket loss against GT

Mumbai Indians` Hardik Pandya reacts after losing the IPL 2025 cricket match against Gujarat Titans at Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai. Pic/PTI

In the IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans (GT), Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a loss by three wickets at the Wankhede Stadium.

During the match, skipper Hardik Pandya and his men bowled several no balls. Speaking about the loss, Pandya said, "Catches did not really cost us, but the no-balls, with my no-balls and even in the last no-ball, in my eyes in T20s, it is a crime and more often than not, it bites you. But I am really happy with the boys for giving their 120 per cent, ensuring we were in the game and not giving up".

At the Wankhede, rain kept interrupting the game and the result of the match was about to favour MI. While the Paltan relaxed in the dressing room, the Titans looked raring to go when the opportunity presented itself.

Later, when the rain stopped, the game resumed with just one over to be bowled. In that one over, GT was put in a situation where they required 15 runs to clinch the victory. The Titans scored 15 runs, which in return helped them secure the top spot on the IPL 2025 points table.

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Despite suffering a loss, the hosts' skipper feels that the score would have been 175 runs. He also praised his bowlers for keeping the fight on till the end.

"Yes, definitely (tough way to go down). We fought well with the total we had. Most of the time, we were out of the game, but we pushed as a group. It was a game of margins," said Pandya.

"It was definitely not a 150-wicket. It was a 175-wicket, we were short in batting by 20-25 or maybe 30 runs if we had batted well. Credit to the bowlers. They kept fighting, and we could not finish the job," added the 31-year-old.

The MI skipper also said that it was not easy to bowl in the second essay of the IPL 2025 match against GT due to persistent rain.

"The ground, in the first innings, was not wet, but post that, throughout, the ball kept getting wetter. Not sure if it helped us or not, it was difficult. Rain kept coming in, not ideal to have stoppages and start again. But the game goes on, we had to play a game (in the end), and we definitely did," Pandya concluded.

Following the loss, MI is now placed in the fourth position on the points table with 14 wins and a net run rate of +1.156. Their upcoming IPL 2025 encounters are against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Delhi Capitals (DC).

(With ANI Inputs)