High Tension in Ahmedabad: Rohit Sharma's Early Departure Sets the Tone
The IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad was anything but smooth sailing. The Narendra Modi Stadium, all lights and anticipation, sat under heavy clouds as a rain delay pulled proceedings back by two hours. Mumbai Indians, after finally getting the green light, chose to set a target. On that pressure-soaked evening, nobody expected the drama to hit so early—especially not at the hands of Marcus Stoinis, better known for his batting firepower than his bowling tricks.
Punjab Kings' skipper, Shreyas Iyer, took a bold approach from the get-go. Rather than sticking solely with his front-line bowlers, he decided to roll the dice in the third over, tossing the ball to Marcus Stoinis—someone not often brought on this early. Fans barely had time to adjust their seats before Stoinis charged in and sent down a short-pitched delivery. Rohit Sharma, who usually tucks these away like they're Sunday practice, went for a big shot—but mistimed it. The ball sailed to deep mid-wicket, and Rohit was caught for just 8 runs.
Controversy Brews: Was It a No-Ball? Stoinis's Celebration Goes Viral
What happened next exploded across social media. Stoinis launched into a wild celebration, arms raised and face lit up, as if he'd just pulled off the impossible. The moment became an instant meme-fest, circulating within minutes. But it wasn't all cheers—a section of fans peppered forums and feeds with slow-motion replays, arguing that Stoinis might have overstepped. Was it a no-ball? No official signals, and play rolled on, but the debate refused to die. The wicket stood, and with it, the momentum shifted.
Despite the early blow, Mumbai Indians kept their chin up. The powerplay saw them blaze to 65 for 1, with the rest digging deep to make up for the void left by their opener. The rain delay meant conditions were tricky, making MI's early aggression even more impressive. But as the innings wore on, that wicket—Rohit Sharma's wicket—looked bigger and bigger on the scoreboard.
Punajb Kings sensed it too. Their bowlers pounced, squeezing the run flow in the middle overs. A little later, the chess game continued as MI brought in Ashwani Kumar for added muscle, while PBKS responded with Prabhsimran Singh, swapping him in for the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Both teams leaned on the new 'impact player' rule, hunting for fresh legs and quick runs.
But with Rohit back in the dugout, Punjab Kings started to believe. The chase, never an easy task at Ahmedabad, suddenly looked less daunting. PBKS batted with purpose, outmaneuvering MI's changes and handling the late-night, greasy conditions with poise. By the end, Punjab's batsmen got them over the line, securing a ticket to the final—and setting up a stormy showdown against RCB.
Rohit Sharma's dismissal on that so-called 'simple ball' might look like just another number in the scorebook, but ask any Punjab fan how much it meant. The moment busted the game open, flipping momentum, pulling a viral spotlight onto Stoinis, and leaving Mumbai running thin on luck when it mattered most. If PBKS do go all the way, they'll owe plenty to that strategic Stoinis over and the fumble that changed everything.