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Hardik Pandya’s debut match of IPL 2025 was not what he had planned for. Pandya’s Mumbai Indians are off to a horrible start this season and lost the game by 36 runs against Gujarat Titans. The match took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium located in Ahmedabad.  

Facing capsized pressure from the opposition captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan who were on fire with the bat, Pandya pitched in to break the partnership. He took the catch for opening wicket Sudharsan and later got rid of the other opener Gill who had scored 38 runs off 27 balls. Eventually, Pandya completed his quota of overs with two scalps. His fielding contributions included a catch and a run-out. Unfortunately for Mumbai, Pandya’s efforts with the bat in a chase of 197 runs was horrendous.  

During this game, he managed to score 11 runs off 17 balls and also got into a staring match with opposition bowler Sai Kishore. That particular incident happened in the 15th over of Mumbai’s chase when Pandya gently nudged the ball and no runs were scored.

Nonetheless, after doing so, he and the bowler exchanged a lengthy stare, while the TV replay showed Pandya cursing the spinner. Before things could get out of hand, the on-field umpire stepped in and eased the situation. Here’s the clip:

 

Post the match, Pandya was spotted making peace with Sai Kishore as the pair shared a long embrace, which was capped by a smile on Pandya’s face. When asked to Sai Kishore share his thoughts about the situation, the spinner said: “He is a very good friend of mine, inside the field it should be like that. Whoever you call an opponent, but it is nothing personal.”


Pandya made his return after sitting out from a self-imposed ban that kept him from starting the season with the Mumbai Indians against the Chennai Super Kings. The ban came as a consequence for not meeting the over-rate goal the previous season.


As for Mumbai, they are still searching for their first points this season, and will face the defending champions the Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match, set to be held on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium.


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