Mumbai Indians made a strong comeback in IPL 2026 with a big win over Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium on April 20.
Before this match, MI had lost four games in a row. But this time, they looked more disciplined, especially in bowling. They bowled out Gujarat Titans and won the match by 99 runs. This victory helped MI move up to seventh place on the points table.
Srikkanth’s strong reaction after the match
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth shared his thoughts after the match and made a bold statement.
He said MI might be better off without Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar in the playing XI for now. He even joked that the team could ask them to stay out for the rest of the season.
His comments quickly became a talking point among fans and experts.
Why Thakur and Chahar were dropped
Shardul Thakur started the season well and even won a Player of the Match award earlier. But in recent games, he struggled with his line and length and gave away too many runs.
Deepak Chahar also had a tough time. He could not take wickets in the powerplay and was expensive. In three matches, he managed only one wicket.
Because of these issues, MI decided to leave both bowlers out of the playing XI for this match.
Young pacers step up for MI
Mumbai Indians replaced them with young bowlers Ashwani Kumar and Krish Bhagat, and the move worked perfectly.
Ashwani Kumar delivered an excellent performance, taking four wickets and putting pressure on GT’s batting. Krish Bhagat also bowled well and kept things tight.
Jasprit Bumrah added to the impact with a strong spell.
Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Wickets | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwani Kumar | 4 | 4 | 24 |
| Krish Bhagat | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 3 | 1 | 15 |
Srikkanth praised the young bowlers and said their discipline was similar to Test match bowling, with good control over line and length.
Bumrah’s new-ball impact
Srikkanth also highlighted Bumrah’s role with the new ball. He took a wicket on the very first ball of the innings, which gave MI early momentum.
According to Srikkanth, Bumrah should continue opening the bowling because his early breakthroughs help the team build pressure from the start.
This win showed that MI can succeed with a different bowling combination. Dropping experienced players and trusting young bowlers worked well in this match.
The team now looks more confident in its bowling setup. If Ashwani Kumar and Krish Bhagat continue performing like this, MI could become a stronger side in the coming matches.
For now, the big takeaway is clear. Mumbai Indians found a winning combination, and their bold decision gave them the result they needed.
