Even though Mumbai Indians have managed to qualify for the playoffs, they have lost a bit of steam towards the end matches of the league stages. Apart from that, some of the decisions made by Hardik Pandya, during their final match vs PBKS were objectionable. The move to continue with Deepak Chahar, when he was feeling the discomfort, didn’t sit well with Virender Sehwag.
Big Mistake by Hardik Pandya?
He could perhaps have brought himself on, or given a chance to Jasprit Bumrah instead. But that did not happen and then Chahar went on to give 28 runs overall in his three-over spell. “I said this in the commentary box also that when Deepak Chahar had a problem with his hamstring, he made him bowl 2 overs. He had bowled a maiden in his first over but then conceded 28 runs from the next two overs.
Virender Sehwag Says..
“It was here where the match shifted in favour of Punjab. If he had given the ball to Bumrah or himself (Hardik) or Ashwani Kumar at that time, they wouldn’t have conceded the 17 runs that went in that over. It would put the pressure on Punjab. As a captain he (Hardik) disappointed me with his bowling changes,” Sehwag said on Star Sports after the MI vs PBKS match.
That loss meant, MI lost the golden chance to get to 18 points, and move a step closer to the Qualifier 1, but that didn’t happen. That instead ensured that PBKS became the first team to get into the top 2, with RCB and GT still in fray. Mumbai will continue to remain in the third/fourth position, and will appear in the eliminator.
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