- May 7, 2025
You know things are going the wrong way when a team goes from 97 for 2 to 113 for 6 in the blink of an eye. That’s what the Mumbai Indians (MI) experienced in their game against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2025 IPL clash in match 56. With a powerful top order and the pleasure of batting at Wankhede—a ground that is practically an assumption of runs—MI collapsed in the middle overs like a house of cards in a wind tunnel. What was thought to be a 180+ day ended as a total that barely found par. And GT? They played the perfect spoil-sport with a game plan that unfolded in fine style.
Let’s examine what went wrong for MI and why their middle order is still a nagging issue.
Wankhede Expectations vs Middle-Over Reality
When you’re playing at Wankhede, 200 is almost a barometer. Teams know this. Fans know this. And MI’s batters knew this too, which is perhaps the reason for their psychological interference. They were cruising at 97 for 2. But instead of pacing the innings, they attacked like their life depended on it. The opportunity of underachieving forced them to over-attack.
Abhishek Nayar put it perfectly – MI play aggressive batting. They had 2 top-order batters who were striking around 140 to 150, so that was a good foundation. However, MI did let themselves down with the mentality of “we need 200 no matter what.” That caught up to them when the mid-order tried to carry on that tempo, and not recalibrate according to match situations. The collapse was then swift. The fall of Tilak Varma triggered a panic that their players and team could not recover from.
Hardik, Naman & the Curious Case of Poor Shot Selection
Let’s talk dismissals – that’s where the real story is. Hardik Pandya arrived at the ideal point; he could either anchor the innings or accelerate depending on the situation. Instead, he decided to play across the line – a high-risk option – and was made to pay. Naman Dhir, who has done well this season, also threw his wicket away when MI needed him to dig in.
It was not about just getting out; it was about how you got out. The shots being selected by the middle order felt rushed and confused. When you are facing a disciplined GT bowling attack with the likes of Shubman Gill playing smartly in the field, you cannot have brain fade, but unfortunately for MI, they had multiple, one after the other.
MI’s Middle Order: A Flaw Hiding in Plain Sight
For a side that is often regarded as five-time champions, MI’s overdependence on their top order has always been evolving as a weak link below the surface. GT highlighted it, like seasoned professionals. They only had one halfway decent partnership of 71 runs; everything else was bits and pieces, and when they were tested in the most important area of their batting, the middle order didn’t stumble; it collapsed.
The talent exists, there’s no doubt about that. Tilak Varma is a potential superstar. When he’s not trying too hard, and Hardik is confident and composed, then he is a match-winner. Naman Dhir has some flair. The issue they have is glue. An anchor to bat through balls and add some stability when wickets fall. Glue like what Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube are adding in other franchises. The middle order enables you to develop a strategy. Without it, it’s middle-order gambling.
The million-rupee question is whether MI can rectify their middle-order failure before the playoffs or will their past glory blind them to their current issues?
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