Mumbai Indians, led by captain Hardik Pandya, took down Gujarat Titans in the eliminator match, paving their way to face Punjab Kings for a spot in the finals. A viral video from the match showed a tense moment between Pandya and Shubman Gill after the toss, where it seemed like Pandya was about to extend his hand for a handshake, but Gill turned away. Later, when Gill got out, Pandya was seen storming past him, fueling speculation about a rift between the two.
The rumors of a feud between Pandya and Gill, who played under Pandya’s captaincy for two seasons before becoming the captain of Gujarat, sparked a lot of discussion among fans. Gill was quick to address the rumors, sharing a post on Instagram that included two photos with Pandya – one from the IPL and one from their time playing for Team India. Gill wrote, “Nothing but love between us… don’t believe everything you see on the internet.”
Pandya responded to Gill’s post by sharing it on his own Instagram story, adding “Always, Shubhu baby” with a heart emoji. The exchange put to rest any speculation about a rift between the two players.
Mumbai Indians, who started the season with a string of losses, made a remarkable comeback to secure a spot in the top four. They will face Punjab Kings in the second qualifier, with the winner advancing to the finals against Royal Challengers Bangalore on June 3.