Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya and Gujarat Titans (GT) spinner R Sai Kishore were involved in a fiery on-field exchange during the 9th match of IPL 2025. However, any speculation about lingering tensions was quickly dispelled as the two players shared a warm hug after the match.
Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, registered their first victory of the season with a commanding 36-run win over MI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 29. In contrast, Mumbai Indians slumped to their second consecutive defeat and currently sit ninth in the 10-team standings.
The heated moment occurred in the 15th over of Mumbaiโs chase when Sai Kishore, who had been keeping things tight with his disciplined bowling, delivered two dot balls before conceding a boundary. He quickly bounced back with another dot, which led to a stare-off between him and Hardik.
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The MI skipper responded with a firm look and exchanged a few words with the left-arm spinner, who didnโt back down. Cameras captured Kishore maintaining eye contact and subtly responding after Pandya played a defensive shot. The umpire intervened before the exchange escalated further.
GAME ๐
Hardik Pandya โ Sai Kishore โ teammates then, rivals now! ๐๐ฅ
Watch the LIVE action โก https://t.co/VU1zRx9cWp #IPLonJioStar ๐ #GTvMI | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/2p1SMHQdqc
โ Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 29, 2025
Sai Kishore ๐ซ Hardik ๐ค
pic.twitter.com/Rlp92ZHJGQโ ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐ ๐ (@Zimbu12_) March 29, 2025
Despite the intensity on the field, both players showed great sportsmanship after the match, embracing during the customary handshake. Kishore, who played a crucial role with the ball, finished with figures of 1/37, including the key wicket of Robin Minz.
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Speaking about the incident, Sai Kishore brushed off any controversy, emphasizing that such moments are part of the game. โHardik is a good friend off the field, but inside, every player is an opponent. We donโt take things personally; we are just fierce competitors. Thatโs how cricket should be,โ he told Cricbuzz.
