Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that the Punjab Kings (PBKS) threw away a match they were well-placed to win against the Mumbai Indians (MI), despite posting 200 runs in their first innings. The defeat, Punjab's fifth consecutive loss, has left them fourth on the points table with 13 points from 12 matches.

How Punjab Built — Then Surrendered — Their Position

Punjab Kings had weathered a middle-overs collapse before Azmatullah Omarzai launched a late assault, smashing 38 off just 17 balls to push the total past 200. Opener Prabhsimran Singh had earlier contributed 57 off 32 deliveries to lay the foundation. The late surge produced 53 runs in the final three overs — a recovery that, according to Gavaskar, gave Punjab both the momentum and the psychological edge heading into the defence.

Mumbai Indians, however, chased down the target with one ball to spare, anchored by an unbeaten 75 from Tilak Varma and an aggressive opening contribution from Ryan Rickelton.

What Gavaskar Said

'This was a game Punjab Kings should have won after scoring 53 runs in the last three overs to get past 200. At that stage, they had the momentum and looked in control,' Gavaskar said on Jio Hotstar. He added that the absence of a big score from captain Shreyas Iyer compounded the problem. 'Shreyas Iyer's failure also hurt because when he scores, Punjab usually gets another 20-30 runs, which could have made the difference,' he explained.

Bowling Decisions Under the Spotlight

Gavaskar also questioned Punjab's bowling strategy, specifically the deployment of Xavier Bartlett, who went wicketless and conceded 53 runs in 3.5 overs. 'Bartlett has been expensive, and I was surprised he wasn't given the new ball on a helpful pitch,' Gavaskar said. The Australian pacer's figures underlined what critics argue was a mismanagement of resources in a chase-defining situation.

Omarzai Praised, Stoinis Option Floated

Despite the loss, Gavaskar singled out Omarzai for contributing meaningfully with both bat and ball. He urged the Punjab management to keep backing the Afghan all-rounder and also raised the prospect of including Marcus Stoinis to bolster batting depth. 'Azmatullah Omarzai was outstanding with both bat and ball, and perhaps Punjab should continue backing him while also considering Marcus Stoinis for added batting depth,' he said.

Punjab's Road Ahead

With five straight defeats, Punjab Kings face mounting pressure ahead of their next fixture against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday. A sixth consecutive loss could severely dent their playoff prospects, making the RCB clash a near must-win for Shreyas Iyer's side.