Could Hardik Pandya Have Bowled the Last Over? Mahela Jayawardene Defends Deepak Chahar's Role in MI's Loss to GT

Mumbai, May 7 (NationPress) The head coach of Mumbai Indians, Mahela Jayawardene, stood by the decision to entrust the final over to Deepak Chahar, emphasizing that the three-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans at Wankhede Stadium past midnight on Tuesday was a matter of execution rather than strategy.

In a rain-affected, high-stakes match on Tuesday, the Gujarat Titans achieved a remarkable last-ball victory against Mumbai Indians, successfully chasing down 15 runs in the final over of a DLS-adjusted 19-over innings. While numerous critics questioned why Hardik Pandya did not bowl the crucial last over, Jayawardene defended the pre-established choice to rely on Chahar.

“Deepak performed admirably for us when Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable earlier in the season,” Jayawardene remarked after MI’s six-match winning streak came to an end. “He was effective, our key bowler. It’s easy to question now why Hardik didn’t bowl. However, had Hardik conceded three sixes, the same criticism would have been directed at Deepak. I prefer not to delve into that.”

The Titans scored 11 runs off the first three deliveries, which included a no-ball and a six. This shifted the momentum in favor of Gujarat, and although Chahar managed to dismiss Gerald Coetzee, the game came down to the wire after a missed run-out attempt as Arshad Khan scurried for a single, causing Mumbai to lose control after dominating most of the second innings.

Jayawardene reiterated that it was not the decision that led to the loss but rather “the execution.” He highlighted how the match shifted despite MI’s bowlers setting the stage flawlessly. Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, delivered a remarkable 15th over that cost only six runs and took a wicket, followed by a 17th over that yielded just seven runs and accounted for Shahrukh Khan.

The strategy involved both Bumrah and Trent Boult completing their spells early in pursuit of wickets, leaving Chahar and Hardik to finish the game. Spinners Will Jacks and Karn Sharma, who collectively bowled only three overs, were not considered for the final over, likely due to the conditions and matchup risks.

Meanwhile, young Ashwani stepped up commendably as a concussion substitute for Corbin Bosch, taking two wickets and slowing down Gujarat’s middle-order onslaught. His performance stood out as one of the few highlights on a night that ended in disappointment for MI.

“This game was within our grasp,” Jayawardene acknowledged. “We made some effective calls with the ball, but under pressure, a couple of poor executions cost us. It wasn’t about who bowled; we just failed to finish the job.”