• Source:JND

GT vs MI IPL 2026: Tilak Varma's maiden IPL hundred didn't just end the Mumbai Indians' losing streak. This also prompted ex-India spinner R Ashwin to react differently, comparing Hardik Pandya's mid-pitch motivational talk to WWE-style and describing Tilak's hundred as one of the best he has witnessed so far.

During an interaction on his YouTube channel after the match between MI and GT, Ashwin emphasized that Hardik's pep talk while batting alongside Tilak might have lifted the spirits of the Mumbai-based franchise. They needed to win this match after losing consecutive games, and Tilak's brilliant knock of 101 runs off 45 balls did just that at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Ashwin compares Hardik’s chat with Tilak to a ‘Triple H’ moment

Ashwin called this pep talk between Hardik and Tilak dramatic and also emphasized how the innings was built. “Hardik Pandya was talking to him (Tilak Varma) while batting, he motivated him, he did it like how we see in WWF (WWE). Just like Triple H used to do with water. So whatever Hardik Pandya said and did worked for Tilak Varma,” Ashwin was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.

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This observation focused on the emotional discussion that occurred during the partnership. Hardik wasn't the main batter in this partnership, but he played the role of a second fiddle, making sure that Tilak played a significant knock. Tilak then took the GT bowlers to the cleaners, turning this competitive knock into a dominating one.

Ashwin had heaped praises on Tilka for his brilliant century and said, "This is easily one of the best IPL hundreds that I have seen. To take down Ashok Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, and Mohammed Siraj on this pitch, it was probably one of the best IPL hundreds that I have ever seen.”

And that's why it was an outstanding knock. It wasn't a flat pitch, padded along with one weak spell. Tilak smashed his century against a formidable bowling attack, and his knock turned the tables in MI's favor. His innings helped the team post a mammoth target, which the hosts failed to chase.

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Ashwin also highlighted the moment when the match slipped out of GT's hands. “The momentum that MI got in the last three overs, the game was over for GT. The moment MI crossed 175 on this pitch, the game was done,” he added.

Tilak's late surge during the last few overs helped MI bounce back and put pressure on the host. What appeared like a mammoth target became a match-winning total, and the Shubman Gill-led side never really got going in their chase.

For the Hardik Pandya-led side, this result meant a lot. After losing a few matches, they needed one innings to regain their belief. Tilak did provide them with that knock. Hardik gave him a pep talk on the field, which was the highlight of the match. Ashwin comparing this to WWE might be hilarious, but what was important was the skipper finding the right moment, the batter responding, and MI then winning that match, which changed the tone of this season.


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