Intro
GT batting coach Matthew Hayden blasts team after heavy defeat MI match
Ahmedabad
Gujarat Titans suffered a crushing 99-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a result that left batting coach Matthew Hayden seething over the team’s overall performance. Mumbai Indians posted a commanding 199/5 after being put in to bat, largely driven by a blistering unbeaten century from Tilak Varma, who struck 101 off just 45 deliveries, dominating the death overs with aggressive stroke play.
Despite early breakthroughs from Gujarat, the final four overs proved disastrous as MI added 73 runs, exposing GT’s bowling vulnerabilities. Hayden described the phase as unacceptable, pointing to repeated execution errors from senior bowlers who failed to control the scoring rate at the back end.
In response, Gujarat Titans collapsed dramatically in their chase, losing opener Sai Sudharsan for a golden duck and slipping to 45/3 inside the powerplay. The middle order offered little resistance as MI’s bowlers, including Ashwani Kumar, Mitchell Santner, and AM Ghazanfar, dismantled the lineup with disciplined spells. GT were eventually bowled out for just 100, far short of the target.
Hayden did not hold back in his assessment, calling the batting display “a terrible performance” and stressing that the margin of defeat reflected poor decision-making and mindset issues. He emphasised that the team’s top-order batters needed to spend more time at the crease and convert starts into meaningful contributions.
While critical of the batting unit, Hayden reserved praise for Kagiso Rabada, who stood out with figures of 3/33, maintaining pace and consistency even as others struggled. However, he noted that individual brilliance could not mask collective failure.
The defeat sees Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans drop to sixth place in the points table with three wins and three losses, raising concerns over consistency early in the season. Hayden insisted the team must respond quickly and correct recurring mistakes in both batting and bowling departments to remain competitive in the tournament.
With pressure mounting, GT will look to regroup in training, focusing on powerplay stability and death-over discipline, as the franchise aims to bounce back strongly in upcoming fixtures of the IPL season going forward now.