New Delhi, March 30 (NationPress) Former Indian left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan commended seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his significant role in the Mumbai Indians' six-wicket triumph over the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, highlighting that Thakur remains unfazed even when batters are on the attack.

During the match held at the Wankhede Stadium, Thakur delivered an impressive performance, achieving figures of 3-39 and earning the title of player of the match as the five-time champions MI secured a winning start, finally ending their 14-year streak without wins in tournament openers.

“He’s not a bowler who gets intimidated, even when batters are aggressive. He continues to challenge them. What’s remarkable is his ability to use variations. With every run-up, he alters his grip, whether it’s for a slower delivery, cross-seam, or a scrambled seam,” Pathan noted on JioStar.

“He consistently seeks to create opportunities. He encourages batters to attempt big shots and thrives on that challenge. Although he lacks express pace or substantial swing, he is always experimenting with different lengths and speeds, which is why he continually takes wickets,” he added.

Pathan also praised wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton for his impressive 81 runs and for forming a formidable 148-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, who contributed a dynamic 61. Preferred over his South African teammate Quinton de Kock, Rickelton showcased his exceptional strokeplay and strategic targeting of spinners.

“Ryan Rickelton was exceptional. We discussed his form being superior to Quinton de Kock’s, and he proved it. He exhibits a broader range, especially on the off-side. That six over cover was a standout shot,” Pathan remarked.

“His shoulder alignment enables him to target those areas consistently, allowing him to play in front of the wicket with precision. Against spin, he was decisive, attacking from the first delivery and aiming for the slog sweep. That intent benefited him, and on a pitch like Mumbai’s, his batting style is perfectly suited,” he continued.

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his view that KKR missed an opportunity by not deploying Sunil Narine during the power-play against Rohit Sharma. “The optimal strategy would have been to bowl Narine in the power-play for at least a couple of overs to target Rohit Sharma early on. That was their best chance to take wickets and apply pressure on Mumbai,” Singh stated.

“Instead, Narine didn’t even complete his full quota, indicating that the captaincy lacked effectiveness. Credit goes to Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. They batted effortlessly and never allowed the bowlers to find their rhythm, but KKR could have managed that phase much more effectively,” he concluded.