Follow UsGujarat Titans (GT) defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) in a closely fought rain-marred encounter at the Wankhede by 3 wickets (DLS method).
After restricting MI for 155/8 in the first innings, GT’s chase was interrupted multiple times by the rain, and it was only well past midnight that GT were asked to chase down 15 runs in the one over to win the game after playing 18 overs in their innings. Deepak Chahar took the ball, but ended up giving a four and a six in his first three deliveries. The fourth was a no-ball, due to which GT were able to chase down the total on the last ball.
Speaking at the post match press conference, MI coach Mahela Jayawardene faulted MI’s execution and not decision making. He dismissed all claims that Hardik Pandya could have also bowled the last over, and felt that its redundant to discuss such decisions post facto.
“Deepak did that job for us when Booms [Jasprit Bumrah] was not there [for the first few games of the season]," Jayawardene said.
"He was good, our main bowler. It's easier for you to ask me that question and for me to say, 'yeah, maybe Hardik'. Had Hardik gone for three sixes, you might have asked me why you didn't bowl Deepak. I don't like to go to that.
“Throughout the game, we made some good decisions with the ball when we had to attack. Deepak's execution - a couple of balls he missed, they hit some good shots, we bowled a no-ball as well on top of that - and we still came down to the last ball.
"It was not the decision; it was the execution. That's where we lost the game. My thinking is we lost the game when we had control of it and that was disappointing."
With this loss, MI’s streak of six wins on the trot in the season was broken. They have 14 points in 12 games and are still going strong to finish in the top four. However, a top two finish might be difficult now.