Matthew Hayden Criticises Gujarat Titans Batting After 99-Run Loss To Mumbai Indians
Matthew Hayden criticised Gujarat Titans batting after 99-run loss to MI, contrasting Shubman Gill’s bowling assessment.
Gujarat Titans’ crushing 99-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in the IPL has triggered an unusual public disagreement between head coach Matthew Hayden and captain Shubman Gill, as both offered sharply contrasting assessments of the team’s performance. The loss, in which GT were bowled out for just 100 while chasing 200, has raised questions about both their batting collapse and bowling execution.
Mumbai Indians posted 199/5 after a strong finish, scoring 73 runs in the final four overs despite being under pressure earlier in the innings. In response, Gujarat Titans’ chase never gained momentum, with early wickets leaving them struggling at 44/3 inside the first six overs before the innings quickly unraveled.
Captain Shubman Gill, after the match, pointed to the bowling unit’s performance as the key reason for the defeat. He suggested that conceding too many runs in the middle overs turned the match in Mumbai’s favour and indicated that 160–170 would have been a more achievable target on the surface.
However, batting coach Matthew Hayden strongly disagreed with the captain’s assessment, calling the overall performance “horrible” and placing equal—if not greater—blame on the batting unit. He said the team’s 99-run margin of defeat was “unacceptable” and criticised the lack of responsibility taken by top-order and middle-order batters.
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Hayden also highlighted the team’s failure in the powerplay, stating that early wickets effectively sealed the match. He noted that while the middle order, including players like Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, and Glenn Phillips, was exposed under pressure, the primary issue was the inability of the top order to build a stable foundation in the chase.
On the bowling front, Hayden acknowledged that Gujarat Titans also struggled, particularly in the death overs where Mumbai added heavily in the final stages. He described the final four overs as a “horror story” but said the conditions still suggested a par score closer to 175, not 199.
The coach further emphasised that GT’s batting unit, known for its strong top-order performances from Sai Sudharsan and Gill, failed to execute their roles on the day. He stressed that while the team is built to be aggressive and adaptable, the lack of application in both batting and bowling led to a comprehensive collapse that requires urgent reflection.
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