Rohit Sharma Bids Emotional Farewell to Mumbai Indians; Arjun Tendulkar Left Moved as IPL 2025 Journey Ends

It wasn’t the ending Mumbai Indians fans were hoping for. Under the lights in Ahmedabad on Sunday night, their team gave it everything, but still came up short. Tasked with defending a big total of 204 in Qualifier 2, MI just couldn’t hold back a red-hot Shreyas Iyer, whose unbeaten 87 guided Punjab Kings into the IPL final and brought Mumbai’s campaign to a close.

It hurts, sure—but this season was far from forgettable.

As always, MI started slow. Just one win in their first four games had the critics writing them off early. But everything changed with a nerve-wracking, final-over win against Delhi Capitals. That victory seemed to spark something. The team clicked. With Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and captain Hardik Pandya stepping up, Mumbai went on a six-game winning streak that hauled them into the playoffs and reignited hopes of a sixth title.

Their playoff run really came alive with a big win in the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans. Rohit Sharma, looking every bit the seasoned match-winner, rolled back the years with a brilliant 81. It was the kind of knock that reminded fans why he's been at the heart of so many Mumbai triumphs over the years. Hopes were high. The belief was back.

But in Qualifier 2, just when it felt like Mumbai might go all the way, Shreyas Iyer had other plans. His calm, clinical 87 not out shut the game down—and with it, Mumbai’s dreams of a sixth title.

Off the field, the loss hit just as hard. As the Mumbai squad made their way home, a few quiet moments started to surface online. One clip, in particular, stayed with people—Rohit Sharma and Arjun Tendulkar sharing a simple, silent hug at the airport. A genuine moment between two teammates- a senior who’s been through it all, and a youngster still learning the ropes. It was soft, almost unnoticeable, but full of feeling. The kind of moment that reminds you this game is about more than just runs and wickets.

Rohit had a season that mirrored Mumbai’s—rough at the start, steady in the middle, and emotional by the end. He struggled early on, looked out of touch. But then came that vintage knock—an unbeaten 76 against CSK that silenced the noise. Then a classy 70 against SRH. And when it mattered most, in the Eliminator, he delivered an 81 that had fans believing again. It felt like he was writing another chapter in his long Mumbai story. But in the Qualifier, it just didn’t click. Eight runs, and that was it. Some nights, the game just doesn’t wait for you.

Head coach Mahela Jayawardene reflected on the loss with a mix of honesty and pride. “We probably left a few runs out there, especially after losing a couple of key wickets in the middle,” he said. “But 200 was still a good total. The execution with the ball just wasn’t quite there.”

Still, he made one thing clear: this wasn’t about blaming anyone. “After the way we started, the way we regrouped and fought back—there’s a lot to be proud of.”

It wasn’t the fairytale finish. But Mumbai’s 2025 campaign had heart, grit, and drama. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that the Mumbai Indians always find their way back.