Tilak Varma turns it around: Mumbai Indians storm Ahmedabad, Gujarat Titans wiped out in 99-run rout
NEW DELHI: Tilak Varma returned to form with his maiden IPL century as Mumbai Indians ended their four-match losing streak in IPL 2026 with a 99-run win over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Monday. Tilak finished unbeaten on 101 off 45 balls, bringing up his hundred with a boundary off the last ball of the innings. His effort took MI to 199 for five after a difficult start.
Spurred by skipper Hardik Pandya's 'hard talk' asking him to get a move-on during the strategic break after he scratched his way to 19 off 22 balls, Tilak changed gears in a flash to amass 82 off the next 23 deliveries and end on an unbeaten 101 off 45 balls. In reply, Gujarat Titans were bowled out for 100 in 15. 5 overs.
Left-arm seamer Ashwani Kumar picked 4/24 in four overs, leading the bowling effort. Mumbai Indians were under pressure early after Kagiso Rabada took 3/33 in four overs, including three wickets in the powerplay. Naman Dhir scored 45 off 32 balls, but Tilak anchored the innings, hitting seven sixes and eight fours as he recovered from a poor run of scores.
In the second innings, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ashwani Kumar removed GT’s heavyweight top three inside the powerplay, after which the batting line-up did not recover. None of the Gujarat Titans batters made a significant contribution as the team folded quickly. That was a statement win from Mumbai Indians.
If they were short on clarity and confidence earlier, this match changed that picture quite a bit. Tilak Varma, after a lean phase, produced his first IPL hundred. He was on 19 off 22 balls before shifting gears and making 82 off the next 23.