Shubman Gill issues official statement on rift with Hardik Pandya after heated Eliminator clash
Published - 31 May 2025, 06:20 PM | Updated - 31 May 2025, 11:35 PM
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Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill and Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya shared an awkward toss moment that instantly caught everyone’s attention in the tense IPL 2025 Eliminator clash on Friday, May 30, at the new Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Chandigarh.
After Mumbai Indians won the toss, Shubman Gill stepped back to let Hardik Pandya speak first and announce his decision whether to bat or bowl first. But when Hardik reached out to shake hands, Gill didn’t notice and walked away, creating an uncomfortable silence on the field.
Shubman Gill ignores Hardik Pandya’s handshake, sparks speculation of rivalry
The uneasy vibe didn’t end there, as shortly after, when Gill was trapped in front of the wicket, Hardik’s celebration was excessively fierce and a bit personal, as the MI captain even turned his face away while passing the GT captain during the intense moment.
Read Also: “Don’t have to be a clown”: Jasprit Bumrah’s sly dig at Virat Kohli goes viral
Even a commentator said during the toss, “Is it the start of a mini rivalry? Before the toss, the two could be seen together clicking photos. Then at the toss, Hardik was ready for a handshake, but then Shubman Gill looked at the other side. Then, after Gill's dismissal, Pandya celebrated on his face.
This sparked a huge buzz on social media, with fans quick to speculate about a possible rivalry between the Indian teammates. Since Gill became India’s Test captain, people have been noticing his attitude closely. This incident added fuel to the fire, with some accusing Gill of arrogance and disrespecting Hardik.
Shubman Gill clears the air on toss drama with Hardik Pandya
As the fans continued to speculate on the incident, Shubman Gill took to his social media handle to put aside all the rumors. On May 31, Gill surprised fans by posting a smiling selfie with Hardik Pandya on Instagram Story to clear the air amid all the controversies.
He suggested fans not to believe what was spreading on social media. Gill wrote in the caption, “Nothing but love. (Don’t believe everything you see on the internet) @hardikpandya93.”
🚨 INSTAGRAM STORY OF CAPTAIN GILL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/YtuXs2eUBG
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 31, 2025
Well, Gill’s simple post put an end to all the drama, confirming that there’s no bad blood between him and Pandya. The awkward moment was likely misunderstood or blown out of proportion.
Mumbai Indians eye IPL 2025 spot
Speaking about the match, Mumbai Indians batted first and set a big target of 229 runs. Gujarat Titans struggled early as Gill got out for just 1 run. Despite strong efforts from Sai Sudharsan (80 off 49 balls) and Washington Sundar (48 off 24 balls), Gujarat Titans fell short by 20 runs, ending their IPL 2025 campaign.
With this thrilling win, Mumbai Indians qualified for the second qualifier, where they will take on Punjab Kings for a spot in the IPL 2025 final. The second qualifier will be held on June 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad—the venue will also stage the final on June 3.
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