Former India captain and renowned commentator Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday dropped out in Mumbai Indians’ Skipar Hardik Pandya for not bowling in the finals in the rainy IPL 2025 match against Gujarat’s Titans. Playing at the Wankhede Stadium, GT was chasing 156, but due to several rain, he needed 15 runs in the 19th over to win the match. MI sent Pesar Deepak four, but he also failed to defend the remaining runs as GT won and the points climbed to the top of the table.
Gavaskar said that the track record of bowling the final overs of Hardik has been very good and the decision to give the ball to Deepak four proved to be expensive for the five -time champion.
“As I had previously explained, due to the fact that he bowled those last overs – and bowled him very well – he bowled against Bangladesh, where I mean, we got 3 wickets, Bangladesh had to score 4 or 5, and India succeeded in winning that game with 1. Jiostar.
“So with it, with a left side, I would have thought – because, let’s face it, also, you know, in the commentary we have heard that Deepak Char has not actually bowled in the last 5 overs. It is probably, you know, one of those rare opportunities, so, you know that he is not used to bowl.
Hardik was also punished for maintaining a slower rate in the game. Gavaskar said that such things can place her place in the playoffs.
“I think they took their time with over – so they had to punish one area. So these things are things that can come and, you know, you find a place in the playoffs. And that’s why I think Indians of Mumbai have to sit and talk really.”
Subjects mentioned in this article
