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Hardik Pandya in action for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024© BCCI
Former England cricket team batsman Kevin Pietersen and legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar were extremely critical of Hardik Pandya’s decision to bowl the first over during the match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 on Sunday. The MI captain decided to start the process with the new ball instead of picking star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, a choice that generated a lot of discussion in the commentary box. Things got worse when Hardik was taken as a cleaner by GT openers Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha and the all-rounder conceded 20 runs in his first six deliveries.
“Why doesn’t Jasprit Bumrah open the bowling alley? I don’t understand,” Pietersen said.
“Very good question. Very, very good question,” Gavaskar responded in the comment.
Even Irfan Pathan took to social media to express his opinion on the matter.
“Where is Bumrah?” posted on X (previously known as Twitter).
Gujarat scored 169 runs with the bat, a decent total on the wicket. Mumbai Indians got off to a poor start when Ishan Kishan gave a lead to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, dismissed for a four-ball duck by Azmatullah Omarzai. MI was 0/1 in 0.4 overs.
Rohit Sharma later developed a brief partnership with young batsman Naman Dhir, a 24-year-old with four T20 innings experience. Rohit hit Umesh Yadav for two fours, while Naman smashed Omarzai for three fours and a six.
However, Omarzai had the last laugh, trapping Naman leg before the wicket for 20 off 10 balls, with three fours and a six. MI was 30/2 in three overs. Rohit, however, was unfazed as he continued to punish Umesh with a four and a six.
Dewald Brevis was next at the crease. With a delightful boundary off Rashid Khan’s delivery, Rohit helped MI reach the 50-run mark in 5.4 overs.
Australian pacer Spencer Johnson hit a costly over to conclude the first half of the innings, being hit for two fours by Rohit and a six by Brevis. At the end of 10 overs, MI were 88/2 with Rohit (40*) and Brevis (26*) unbeaten.
Brevis hit Mohit Sharma for four to help MI reach the 100-run mark in 11.1 overs.
The 77-run partnership for the third wicket was ended by Sai Kishore, who trapped Rohit leg before the wicket for 43 off 29 balls, with seven fours and a six. MI was 107/3 in 12.1 overs.
At the end of 15 overs, MI were 126/3, with Brevis (46*) and Tilak Varma (15*) unbeaten.
Mohit turned things around for GT, dismissing Tim David for 11 off 10 balls after he was caught by David Miller. MI were 142/5 in 18 overs, needing 27 runs off the last 12 balls.
In the next over, Spencer started by conceding a six, but got Tilak off the next ball, caught by Abhinav Manohar for 25 off 19 balls. MI was 148/6, needing 21 off 10 balls.
Hardik Pandya and Gerald Coetzee were the new pair and took the team into the last over with 19 runs to go all the way when Spencer dismissed Gerald on the last ball of the over for one run. MI was 150/7 in 19 overs.
Shams Mulani was next at the crease. Hardik started the next with a six and a four. However, Umesh dismissed him for 11 in four balls, caught by Tewatia. MI were 160/8 and needed nine runs off three balls. Umesh was on a hat-trick, getting Piyush Chawla on the next ball to duck. MI was 160/9, needing nine off two balls.
MI finished their innings at 162/9 in 20 overs, losing by six runs.
With ANI inputs
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