[WATCH] IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma receives two early lifelines in GT vs MI Eliminator

Rohit Sharma survived two early scares of getting dismissed during the Eliminator of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League between Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. The two missed opportunities unfolded in the second and third over of MI's innings, after they won the toss and elected to bat first.

The first opportunity to send the former MI skipper back to the shed arrived to Gerald Coetzee at deep backward square leg. He failed to hang on to a top-edge which went skywards after running to his right. The second one was a fairly regulation one. A short-of-a-good-length delivery from Mohammed Siraj was attempted to be swung by Rohit. Kusal Mendis got both gloves to the ball, but still ended up spilling the chance, as he slightly over-run to grab the edge off the MI batter's blade.

To watch both the dropped catches of Rohit Sharma, click here

Earlier in the evening, MI won the toss and opted to bat first. Wicketkeeper-batter, Jonny Bairstow, slotted in for Ryan Rickelton as a like-for-like switch. The English cricketer came in as a temporary replacement for Rickelton who had to flow to England to prepare for the upcoming final of the 2023-25 cycle of the World Test Championship.

GT replaced Mendis for Jos Buttler, who, like Rickelton, had to travel to England for national duty. He will integrate with the Three Lions as a part of their setup in the ongoing white-ball series against West Indies. Buttler had racked up 538 runs in 13 innings this season at an impressive strike rate of 163.03. The ex-MI player had registered five half-centuries to his name.

Speaking of the ongoing match, the Hardik Pandya-led side would be aiming to post a steep total for their opposition considering the start they've received from Rohit and Bairstow in the powerplay. The two of them combined to post 79 for the loss of no wickets. The winner of this fixture will take on Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Sunday, June 1.