Mumbai, May 7 (IANS) Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene defended the team’s decision to give the final over to Deepak Chahar, insisting the three-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium past midnight on Tuesday came down to execution, not strategy.
In a rain-hit, high-pressure clash on Tuesday, Gujarat Titans pulled off a stunning last-ball win against Mumbai Indians, chasing 15 runs in the final over of a DLS-revised 19-over innings. While many questioned why captain Hardik Pandya didn’t bowl the decisive last over, Jayawardene backed the pre-planned call to go with Chahar.
“Deepak did that job for us when Booms [Jasprit Bumrah] was not there [early in the season],” Jayawardene said after MI’s six-match winning streak was snapped. “He was good, our main bowler. It’s easier to ask now why Hardik didn’t bowl. But had Hardik gone for three sixes, the same question would’ve been asked about Deepak. I don’t like to go there.”
The Titans took 11 off the first three balls, including a no-ball and a six. With that, the match swung Gujarat’s way, and with Chahar getting Gerald Coetzee out taking the game down to the wire before missing a runout chase as Arshad Khan scampered for a single, Mumbai had let the match slip after being in control for most of the second innings.
Jayawardene stressed that the decision wasn’t the problem, “it was the execution.” He pointed out how the match turned despite MI’s bowlers setting things up perfectly. Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, was exceptional, delivering a 15th over that cost just six runs and picked up a wicket, followed by a 17th that gave away just seven and accounted for Shahrukh Khan.
The strategy saw both Bumrah and Trent Boult finish their spells early in the hunt for wickets, leaving Chahar and Hardik with the task of closing out. Spinners Will Jacks and Karn Sharma, who together bowled just three overs, were not considered for the final over, likely due to the conditions and match-up risks.
Meanwhile, young Ashwani stepped in admirably as a concussion substitute for Corbin Bosch, picking up two wickets and applying brakes during Gujarat’s middle-order charge. His performance was one of the few positives on a night that otherwise ended in disappointment for MI.
“This game was in our control,” Jayawardene admitted. “We made some good calls with the ball, but under pressure, a couple of poor executions cost us. It wasn’t about who bowled. We just didn’t finish the job.”
–IANS
hs/bsk/
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
