Daijiworld Media Network – Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Apr 21: Jasprit Bumrah made a strong comeback by claiming his first wicket of IPL 2026 with a first-ball breakthrough as Mumbai Indians defeated Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Monday.

After going wicketless in his first five matches, Bumrah struck immediately, dismissing the dangerous Sai Sudharsan with the opening delivery of the innings. He maintained tight control, conceding just one run in the over and finishing with impressive figures of 3-0-15-1.

Mumbai Indians successfully defended a competitive total of 199/5, ending their four-match losing streak in the tournament.

Captain Hardik Pandya addressed questions about using Bumrah in the first over, saying the pacer is deployed based on team requirements rather than fixed roles.

“Jasprit is so special that you use him wherever it’s required for the team. Today, we wanted to make an impact with the new ball, and no one’s better than him,” Pandya said.

Earlier, Mumbai posted a strong total riding on a sensational unbeaten 101 off just 45 balls by Tilak Varma, who equalled the franchise record for the fastest IPL century. Naman Dhir contributed a valuable 45 to stabilise the innings after early setbacks.

The bowling unit delivered a collective performance, with Ashwani Kumar leading the charge with figures of 4/24. Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar picked up two wickets each to dismantle Gujarat Titans’ batting line-up.

Pandya expressed satisfaction over the win, especially at a venue where Mumbai have struggled in the past. “It’s always challenging to win away, and Ahmedabad hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us, so this victory is very satisfying,” he said.

Following the win, Mumbai Indians moved up to seventh place on the points table with four points from six matches. They are set to face arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings on April 23.