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 with 101 off 45 balls, raising his hundred with a boundary off the last ball of the innings. His efforts took MI to 199 for five after a difficult start.Spurred on by the ‘tough talk’ from skipper Hardik Pandya who told him to move on during the strategic break after working his way to 19 off 22 balls, Tilak changed gears in a flash to collect 82 off the next 23 deliveries and finish with 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, to lead the bowling effort.Mumbai Indians were under pressure early after Kagiso Rabada took 3/33 in four overs, including three wickets in the powerplay.Noman Dhir scored 45 off 32 balls, but Tilak stabilized the innings, hitting seven sixes and eight fours as he recovered from a string of poor scores.
In the second innings, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ashwani Kumar removed the top three GT heavyweights inside the powerplay, after which the batting line-up never recovered.None of the Gujarat Titans batsmen made a significant contribution as the team quickly pulled away.That was a huge win for Mumbai Indians. If they lacked clarity and confidence earlier, this match changed that image a bit.
Tilak Varma, after a lean phase, produced his first IPL hundred. He was on 19 off 22 balls before switching gears and making 82 off the next 23 overs.Before this match, Tilak had scored 43 runs in five innings. On Monday, he hit eight fours and seven sixes.The win, after four straight defeats, moved Mumbai Indians to seventh place in the points table, but more importantly improved their net run rate significantly (+0.067).Abbreviated degrees:Mumbai Indians: 199/5 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma not out 101, Noman Dhir 45; Kagiso Rabada 3/33, Mohammed Siraj 1/25).Gujarat Titans: 100 all out in 15.5 overs (Washington Sundar 26; Ashwani Kumar 4/24, Mitchell Santner 2/16).
