Sunil Gavaskar, a well-known figure in Indian cricket, thinks that Hardik Pandya’s choice not to bowl the last over against Gujarat Titans could hurt Mumbai Indians’ chances for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Gavaskar shared his thoughts after the Titans beat the Indians by three wickets using the DLS method, moving them to the top of the points table.
He pointed out that Pandya has a solid history of performing well under pressure and questioned why he handed the last over to Deepak Chahar, who doesn’t have much experience in those situations. He’s done well in high-stakes games before, Gavaskar said, recalling a previous match against Bangladesh and the ICC T20 World Cup final.
During the game, Gujarat Titans struggled a bit but managed to keep things interesting due to rain delays that adjusted their target. When they needed 15 runs in the final over, Mumbai chose Chahar, who hadn’t often bowled in that phase. A couple of big hits from the Titans, including a no-ball from Chahar, swung the match in their favor.
Gavaskar questioned the choice, saying it was unusual for Chahar to be in that role, and that made a difference. He also mentioned Mumbai’s slow over-rate, which forced them to have an extra fielder in the circle during the critical last over—a disadvantage in such a close match.
These decisions can really cost you a playoff spot, he said, suggesting the Mumbai team take time to discuss their plans moving forward. With just a few games left, the road ahead looks tough for the five-time champions.
