Despite the drama, Gujarat held their nerve to top the points table, inching closer to the playoffs. Mumbai, meanwhile, slipped to fourth in the standings after the gut-wrenching defeat.

Kohli finished the tournament as India’s second-highest scorer with 443 runs. Rohit Sharma led with 648 runs, including five centuries. Other key contributors included KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Hardik Pandya.

Following the face-off with Gujarat Titans, MI are scheduled to play the red-hot Punjab Kings on May 11 and the Delhi Capitals on May 15. The silver lining is that two of these encounters—against GT and DC—will be played at their home ground, the Wankhede Stadium.

Despite Rabada’s absence and Rashid Khan's struggles, GT have managed an impressive run this season, currently sitting fourth on the points table with seven wins from ten matches. Their bowling unit has performed admirably, with Prasidh Krishna leading the Purple Cap race with 19 wickets, supported by Mohammed Siraj (14 wickets) and Sai Kishore (12 wickets, economy 8.35).

Rishabh Pant's ongoing struggles in IPL 2025 have alarmed former cricketers, with Virender Sehwag and Shaun Pollock offering different takes on his dip in form. Pant’s most recent knock, a slow 18 off 17 balls, came during LSG’s 37-run loss to Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. His lack of form has prompted Sehwag to advise some self-reflection.

Originally drafted as an injury replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mhatre had already shown promise in earlier appearances against MI and SRH. His transition into the CSK setup has been smooth, thanks in part to familiar faces like Shivam Dube.

Kohli also expressed gratitude for the fans: “The love that I have received from the fans, I do not think any silverware or any trophy can come close to that,” he said.

This season, Kohli is in sublime form, having scored 443 runs in 10 games. Dhoni, now primarily playing the role of finisher, has chipped in with 151 runs in the same number of outings.

So far in IPL 2025, he has played nine matches and taken four wickets. RCB currently sits on 14 points and is in the playoff race. They next face Chennai Super Kings on May 4 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The ongoing debate raises questions about LSG’s batting strategy and the role team management plays in critical in-game decisions, especially involving key players like Pant.