Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his disappointment with Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy during the match against the Mumbai Indians. He felt that Rahane missed a crucial opportunity to deploy Sunil Narine early in the innings against Rohit Sharma, especially given Narine’s impressive track record against the MI opener.
The KKR bowlers endured a challenging outing at Wankhede Stadium, as the Mumbai Indians successfully chased down a daunting target of 221 runs. Rohit Sharma shone with a remarkable 78 runs off just 38 balls, joined by his opening partner, Rickleton, who contributed 81 runs from 43 balls. Together, they constructed a formidable partnership of 148 runs off 72 balls, paving the way for an effortless chase by the home team.
Reflecting on KKR’s strategy in defending their total, Harbhajan Singh voiced his frustration regarding the timing of Narine’s introduction into the bowling attack. Narine was brought in after the power play, when both Rohit and Rickleton were already well-set.
“The optimal strategy would have been to bowl Sunil Narine during the powerplay, at least for one or two overs to pressure Rohit Sharma early on. That was their best opportunity to take wickets and impose pressure on Mumbai. Instead, Narine didn’t complete his full quota, indicating that the captaincy decisions fell short. Full credit goes to Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton, who batted effortlessly and kept the bowlers on the back foot. However, KKR could have managed that critical phase much more effectively,” Harbhajan remarked during a discussion on JioStar.
In addition, both Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan praised Shardul Thakur, who picked up three wickets in the first innings. They commended Shardul’s tenacity and self-assurance while bowling in challenging situations.
“He’s not a bowler who gets flustered, even when batters are on the attack. He keeps coming at you. What stands out is how he adapts his variations,” Pathan noted. “Every time he begins his run-up, he’s already adjusting his grip, whether for a slower ball, cross-seam, or a scrambled seam delivery. He’s always looking to create opportunities.”
Irfan Pathan further emphasized that Shardul’s continuous experimentation with his bowling techniques has begun to pay off.
“He invites batters to go for big shots and thrives in that situation. Although he may not possess express pace or significant swing, he’s always testing different lengths and speeds, which is why he consistently claims wickets,” Pathan concluded.