Mumbai Indians’ narrow defeat against Gujarat Titans in a rain-hit IPL 2025 thriller at Wankhede has reignited questions over Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, especially his decision to not bowl the final over himself. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the move, suggesting it could potentially cost MI a place in the playoffs, given the tight points table. Gujarat Titans, chasing a revised target of 147 in 19 overs, pulled off a three-wicket win using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
Gavaskar questions bowling decision
Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on JioStar, pointed out Pandya’s strong record in pressure situations and expressed surprise at the decision to hand the final over to Deepak Chahar, who is rarely used in the death overs. Gavaskar recalled crucial moments from previous matches where Pandya successfully defended in tight scenarios, including the T20 World Cup final in Barbados. He stressed that in such a high-stakes game, Pandya should have taken the responsibility himself. Chahar, lacking experience in the final overs, conceded key boundaries, including a four and a six, and bowled a no-ball that tilted the match decisively in Gujarat’s favour.
Rain, revised targets, and tactical errors
The match was already complicated by rain, which led to a revised DLS target of 147. Despite Gujarat losing early wickets, they stayed within striking distance. In the final over, with 15 runs needed, Rahul Tewatia and Gerald Coetzee capitalised on Chahar’s inexperience. Tewatia struck a boundary off the first ball, Coetzee followed with a six, and a no-ball added further pressure. Although Chahar managed to dismiss Coetzee, the damage was done, and Gujarat scraped through with a single on the last delivery.
Adding to MI’s woes was a penalty for a slow over-rate, which forced them to bring an additional fielder inside the circle during the final over. Gavaskar noted this tactical handicap as another reason for the loss. With only a few games left in the league stage, Mumbai Indians now face a tough road ahead in their bid to qualify for the playoffs, making every point and decision crucial in the final stretch of the tournament.
