Explained: Why Ishan Kishan did not bat in Mumbai Indians' 234-run chase against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 Qualifier 2

With their resounding victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator at Chepauk on Wednesday, Mumbai Indians immediately assumed the hot favourite status for the IPL 2023 title, let alone the Qualifier 2 match. Why not, too. No team has ever defeated Rohit Sharma's club in the playoffs since 2017. Therefore, their five IPL championships. Nevertheless, the Gujarat Titans, the defending champions, ended the streak on Friday. Mohit Sharma's five-wicket haul and a brilliant batting performance from Shubman Gill helped GT script a decisive 62-run victory to advance to their second consecutive IPL final.

MI weren't supposed to be absent from the contest. Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green steadied the ship after the early blows to take MI to 123 for three, keeping Mumbai in the game till the 11th over against a formidable total of 234, a number never pursued before in IPL history. Suryakumar single-handedly maintained the momentum after the latter left, and he also scored a fifty along the way.

The remaining lineup quickly fell apart after his removal in the 15th over, and MI was defeated in 18.2 overs.

Virat Kohli's dramatic response to Shubman Gill's century against the Mumbai Indians in the second IPL 2023 Qualification game
The excellent powerplay start, which was mostly given by Ishan Kishan, who has had a strong season thus far, was what Mumbai sorely needed on Friday. He did not, however, bat in the game against GT. Nehal Wadhera was supposed to start as an impact player but only made 3 out of 4 while Vishnu Vinod took Ishan's place as a concussion replacement

Chris Jordan, who had just completed Gujarat's 16th over, was putting on his cap when Ishan, who was moving sides, collided with him. Jordan's elbow during the collision struck Ishan squarely in the left eye. The physio was summoned, and the wicketkeeper eventually left the field, causing the game to be stopped.

A strange accident prevented Rohit Sharma from opening with Ishan, and MI was later obliged to bat Vishnu in his place.

After MI's heartbreaking loss in Ahmedabad, Rohit remarked, "We did not expect it. He had a bit of a concussion, I'm not sure how it happened.

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