It was a patient yet brilliant outing by defending champion Gujarat Titans (GT) against five-time former record champion Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2023 Indian Premier League's (IPL) playoff's Qualifier 1 at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. Shubman Gill's hundred, followed by Mohit Sharma's five-for did an insane job for the hosts to win the fixture by 62 runs and set up a date with four-time former champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Final at the same venue on Sunday, while netizens were in a euphoric mood.

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His ability to identify moments and accelerate, with consistency, puts him in a class of his own. Also keep in mind, most of his games have been at Ahmedabad, one of the bigger grounds around. Well played Shubman👏
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— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 26, 2023

After winning the coins toss, which was delayed due to a wet outfield, MI opted to chase, as GT openers Wriddhiman Saha (18) and Gill (129) came up with a 54-run stand before the former departed to veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla in the seventh over. Thereon, Gill and Sai Sudharsan (43) changed the complexion of the Gujarat innings, piling on an assertive 138-run partnership for the second wicket.

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Phenomenal inning this 🔥🔥 @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/VCcb9gHj2R
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) May 26, 2023

As Gill slammed his third IPL century and as many this season, besides also becoming the seventh to do so in the playoff and the youngest, his 60-ball 129 ended in the 17th when pacer Akash Madhwal got rid of him. Thereon, Sudarshan and Pandya (28*) did a decent job, while the former walked off after the penultimate over retired hurt.

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Shubman Gill the SUPER STAR .. @ShubmanGill outstanding batting Champion. So proud of you @IPL
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 26, 2023

Eventually, GT finishes on a monumental total of 233/3, the highest score in an IPL playoff game. Gill smashed ten sixes in an innings, making it the most by a batter in an IPL playoff contest. Besides the two wicket-taker for Mumbai, pacer Jason Behrendorff was quite economical. Before the chase, MI brought Nehal Wadhera for Madhwal as the Impact Player, while the Titans replaced Gill with pacer Joshua Little.

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.@ShubmanGill's 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐄:

✔️Youngest to score a century in IPL Playoffs
✔️Highest score in #TATAIPL Playoffs (129)
✔️Joint-fastest hundred in #TATAIPL Playoffs (49 balls)
✔️2nd batter in T20 history to score 3 centuries in 4 consecutive innings
✔️Most runs in 4… pic.twitter.com/VsIcbehYUc
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 26, 2023

Although Mumbai began on a wobbly note, losing three by the sixth over of the PowerPlay, Cameron Green (30) and Suryakumar Yadav (61) put on a quickfire 51-run stand for the third, as the side looked strong at 72/3 by the sixth. Then, Surya and Tilak Varma (43) added 52 for the fourth before the latter fell prey to leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who knocked him over in the 12th.

5 wickets in 14 balls including the game changing wicket of SKY! Well bowled Mohit Sharma, this has been a season of redemption for him 👏🏽 #GTvMI #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/xnrcJGe69H
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 26, 2023

A 31-run ensued between SKY and Vishnu Vinod (5). While the former engaged in most of the hitting, striking his 21st IPL 50, the latter supported him. However, in the 15th, the former was dismissed by senior pacer Mohit Sharma, who cleaned him up, shattering all hopes for MI, as it was left reeling at 155/5.

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Another example of Never Give Up- Mohit Sharma. Was not in the fray last few seasons and a net bowler for GT last season. But in just 13 matches, 24 wickets this season is a champion performance. Top 3 wicket takers all from Gujarat and they so deserve to make it to the finals.… pic.twitter.com/cJ6VxMMSZu
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) May 26, 2023

Thereon, Mumbai could barely get a partnership going and collapsed like a pile of cards, as GT got the job done by 62 runs and set up a date against CSK on Sunday in the grand finale. For Gujarat, Mohit was sensational with a five-for, the best bowling figure by a bowler from the side, while he also nailed it with his economy.

This is a 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚 APPRECIATION post! 👌🌟🏏

What a story! Nothing less than a folktale... Well done! 👍#MIvGT #MIvsGT #MohitSharma #TataIPL #TataIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/IBW8wWntHb
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) May 26, 2023