IPL 2026: Tilak Varma Hits Unbeaten Ton As Mumbai Indians Thrash Gujarat Titans, Register Biggest Win Of Season

Ahmedabad: Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians (MI) has returned to winning ways in IPL 2026. After suffering four consecutive defeats, MI registered a massive 99-run victory against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday. This marks the largest victory of the current season in terms of runs. Powered by a blistering century from Tilak Varma, MI set a target of 200 runs for GT at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In response, the Gujarat team was bundled out for just 100 runs in 15.5 overs.

Following Tilak's explosive innings, fast bowler Ashwini Kumar's 'deadly spell' dismantled GT. He claimed four wickets for just 24 runs in his four overs. Spinners Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar took two wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik claimed one apiece. Five-time champions MI have defeated GT at the Ahmedabad venue for the very first time.

How did Gujarat Titans' batting pan out?

Chasing the target, GT got off to a poor start. Bumrah sent Sai Sudharsan (0) back to the pavilion in the very first over. Hardik trapped Jos Buttler (5) in his web during the second over. Former captain Shubman Gill (14) struck two boundaries off Bumrah but was caught by Naman at deep square leg during the fifth over, bowled by Ashwini. For GT, all-rounder Washington Sundar (26 off 17 balls) was the top scorer. In the eighth over, while attempting to play a big shot off Santner, he was caught by Naman at the boundary.

Just one ball later, Glenn Phillips (6) also returned to the pavilion after offering a return catch to Santner. Half of the Gujarat team was back in the dugout with the score at 55 runs. Shahrukh Khan contributed 17 runs, and Kagiso Rabada added 12 runs. Six players, including Rahul Tewatia (8), failed to reach double digits. Ashok Sharma remained unbeaten on 1 run.

Just look at the celebration of Captain HARDIK PANDYA, he's jumping in a joy. This century by TILAK VARMA was exactly what the Mumbai Indians needed🔥#GTvsMI pic.twitter.com/BYDlOrOsDV

— Fan Account Richard Kettlebourogh (@RichKettle07) April 20, 2026

How did Tilak Varma perform?

Earlier, Mumbai posted a total of 199 runs for the loss of five wickets against Gujarat. During his maiden IPL century, Tilak played an unbeaten innings of 101 runs off 45 balls, featuring eight fours and seven sixes. He shared an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya (15 off 16 balls) and a 52-run stand for the fourth wicket with Naman Dhir (45). Thanks to Tilak's innings, the Mumbai team managed to add 73 runs in the final four overs. For GT, Kagiso Rabada claimed three wickets for 33 runs. Mohammed Siraj took one wicket for 25 runs, while Prasidh Krishna claimed one wicket for 54 runs.

What happened during the match?

Shubman Gill won the toss and invited Mumbai to bat—a decision Rabada vindicated by sending both openers, Quinton de Kock (13) and Danish Malewar (02), back to the pavilion by the fourth over with the score at 25. In the second over of the innings, Rabada trapped Malewar—who was making his T20 debut—leg before wicket (LBW), and then, in the very next over, caught de Kock off his own bowling. Naman Dhir, who has been in good form, began his innings with two consecutive fours off Mohammed Siraj. Suryakumar Yadav (15) also struck a six and a four off consecutive deliveries from Rabada, but the pacer bowled him out in the very same over. Mumbai Indians finished the Powerplay at 46 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Naman and Tilak Varma subsequently stabilized the innings. After hitting two consecutive fours off Ashok Sharma, Naman went on to strike a six and a four off consecutive deliveries from Washington Sundar as well. Mumbai then suffered a major blow when Naman, attempting to pull a slower delivery from Prasidh Krishna, handed a catch to Rabada at the deep square-leg boundary. Facing 32 deliveries, he struck six fours and a six. Mumbai reached the 100-run mark in the 14th over.

Tilak displayed his aggressive intent by smashing a six and two fours off consecutive deliveries from Prasidh. In the 18th over, he plundered 26 runs off consecutive balls from Ashok—hitting three sixes and two fours—and, in the process, completed his first half-century of the current season off 33 balls. In the following over, Glenn Phillips took a spectacular catch to dismiss Pandya off Siraj's bowling. Tilak completed his century in Prasidh's final over, hitting two sixes and two fours. He was named the Player of the Match.