The final over of Mumbai Indians’ (MI) match against Gujarat Titans (GT) has sparked debate, especially regarding MI’s decision to hand the ball to Deepak Chahar instead of Hardik Pandya, a question that has been raised by analysts like Mahela Jayawardene and Katey Martin.
MI’s Final Over Decision
In the rain-affected game, MI needed to defend 15 runs off six balls. The team had several options for the final over: Chahar, who had bowled just two overs, and Hardik, who had only bowled one. MI chose Chahar, who Jayawardene defended, stating he was the “main bowler” at that point in the game. However, Martin felt that MI missed a trick by not giving the ball to Hardik Pandya, given his leadership role and his ability to take responsibility in crunch moments.
Chahar’s Over ended in disaster with a four and a six, plus a no-ball, handing GT the win off the last ball. Jayawardene argued that the issue wasn’t the decision to bowl Chahar but the execution, highlighting the no-ball and missed deliveries that led to MI’s downfall.
Middle Overs and Execution
Abhinav Mukund and Martin both pointed out that MI let the game drift during the middle overs. Bumrah and Boult had bowled their key overs earlier, and the middle-phase overs leaked runs, creating a situation where MI had to adjust their plans. They were forced to rely on their less experienced bowlers like Chahar and Hardik in the death overs, which ultimately didn’t go as planned.
Bumrah’s Impact
MI did gain some momentum through Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled superbly, especially in the 15th and 17th overs, getting key wickets like Shubman Gill and Shahrukh Khan. Bumrah’s delivery to Gill, which nipped back in and caused his dismissal, was a reminder of his world-class skill. Bumrah’s bowling brought MI back into the game, but the final over undid all that hard work.
In Summary
The key issue wasn’t necessarily the choice to bowl Deepak Chahar, but rather the execution of that over. The no-ball and two big shots (a four and six) from Chahar were the crucial factors that swung the game in GT’s favor. There’s also the question of whether Hardik Pandya should have bowled that over, considering his leadership role and previous experience in such situations. This match highlights how fine the margins are in T20 cricket, where decisions and execution can make all the difference.
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