Sri Lankan and Gujarat Titans' keeper-batter Kusal Mendis bizarrely shattered the stumps as his one foot slipped to the stumps while playing a shot during the IPL 2025 Eliminator against the Mumbai Indians in Mullanpur. The Sri Lankan cricketer sat down in disappointment as the Titans were pegged back when they felt settled.
The dismissal occurred in the seventh over of the innings sent down by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. With the right-handed batter getting down on his knee to play a sweep his back foot slipped too far and it hit the stumps, sending Mumbai Indians into jubilation. The dismissal ended the 64-run partnership with B Sai Sudharsan after losing captain Shubman Gill in the opening over.
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Mendis, who had to walk back for 20 off 10 deliveries, laced with one four and two sixes, had also endured a nightmare outing behind the stumps earlier in the night. The 30-year-old had dropped two catches on the night, costing the Titans several runs.
Mumbai Indians win toss and Hardik Pandya opts to bat first
Meanwhile, the toss went in favour of the Mumbai Indians and Hardik Pandya opted to bat first. With Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks returning home for international duty, Jonny Bairstow and Richard Gleeson made their debuts for the Mumbai Indians. Additionally, Raj Angad Bawa replaced the injured Deepak Chahar.
The Titans triggered two changes to their XI, bringing in Mendis for Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar for Arshad Khan, respectively.
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson.
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Kusal Mendis(w), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
