![[VIEW] IPL 2025: Kusal Mendis becomes the first player to be hit by a wicket during the playoffs](https://onecricket.pro/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/121524194.webp "[VIEW] IPL 2025: Kusal Mendis becomes the first player to be hit by a wicket during the playoffs 1")
On his debut, Sri Lankan batsman-wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who was substituted into the Gujarat Titans’ starting lineup for the Eliminator match against the Mumbai Indians, made tournament history by becoming the first player to be hit for a wicket in IPL Playoff history.
Kusal Mendis was added to the squad for the last stages of the 2025 Indian Premier League as a substitute for Jos Buttler. The right-handed batter seemed in form in his first appearance, hitting 20 off just 10 balls with two sixes and a four. As GT chased the 229-run goal set by Mumbai, Kusal Mendis and B Sai Sudharsan, who was maintaining his strong form, helped GT bounce back after Shubman Gill was lost to Trent Boult in the opening over.
But Kusal Mendis lost control of his feet when he attempted to lift a length ball from left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in the eighth over of the chase. His back foot slipped and struck the stumps as he retreated. Notably, it wasn’t only Santner’s fifth T20 dismissal of Kusal Mendis.
View Kusal Mendis’ hit-wicket footage here.
What happened there? 🤔
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The Mumbai Indians had earlier in the match scored 228 for 5, which was the second-highest score in the history of the IPL Playoffs. Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow, MI’s new opening duo, put together a crucial 84-run partnership. After receiving two early lifelines, Rohit ended up hitting an incredible 81 off 50, while Bairstow, who was brought in for Ryan Rickelton, slammed 47 off only 22 deliveries.
Important cameos were made by the middle order of Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav. MI hit 17 sixes during the innings, which is tied for third-most in any game this year. Hardik’s heroics in the closing over, which included three sixes off Gerald Coetzee, helped MI reach 225.
Despite losing their captain in the opening over, GT got off to a strong start as they chased 229. After a counterattack by Kusal Mendis and Sudharsan, GT reached 67/1 in 6.2 overs. After 28 balls, Sudharsan reached his half-century. However, the side was once again on the defensive after the stumper-batter was dismissed. With 110 runs needed in 54 balls, GT’s scorecard after 11 overs showed 119/2.
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