Mumbai Indians lost to the Gujarat Titans in a rain-affected match. Many people believed the captain, Hardik Pandya, was at fault for giving Deepak Chahar the last over. Not only fans but also Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar blamed him for his poor choice in such an important game.
The renowned commentator stated that Pandya had a good record of bowling the final over. Despite that, he chose to give the last over to Chahar, and it turned out to be costly for the five-time champions. Gavaskar gave an example of how Pandya bailed India out in a knockout match against Bangladesh in the 2016 World Cup, as well as in the final against South Africa last year.
He also slammed the MI skipper for not completing the overs on time. That ultimately cost them, as Chahar failed to defend the target. After the rain affected the match for the third time, the target was revised for GT, and they needed to score 15 runs in just 6 balls. Due to a slow over rate, MI had to keep one fielder inside the circle. With Rahul Tewatia and Gerald Coetzee batting, it was MI’s game to lose.
“I think the fact that they took their time with the over – so they had to penalise one field. So these things are things that can come in and, you know, cost you a place in the playoffs. And that is the reason why I think Mumbai Indians really have to sit down and talk about that.”
In the final moments of the match, Tewatia and Coetzee both hit big boundaries in the last three balls and ultimately won the match for GT. With this win, the Titans have now reached the top of the points table. Trouble for MI, as their road to the playoffs looks slightly difficult.
What do the Mumbai Indians need to do to qualify for the playoffs?
The match against GT was an important game for MI, as they are already one game short in comparison to other contenders. Their next matches are against the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, two teams who are also in contention for playoff qualification. Let’s look at how MI can still qualify for the top 4.
First, Pandya and co. were scheduled to face PBKS in Dharamshala. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the match has now been shifted to the Wankhede Stadium. If MI defeats Shreyas Iyer’s men on May 11, they will qualify for the playoffs. However, if the result doesn’t go in their favor, all eyes will be on their last match against the DC.
Interestingly, after losing 4 of their first 5 matches, their comeback started against DC. The five-time champions won that match after three successful run-outs in a row. Due to their impressive net run rate, there’s a high chance of finishing in the top 4. They must win two of their remaining matches to finish in the top 2.