Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Saba Karim highlighted Jasprit Bumrah’s intangible impact and credited the explosive finish by Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir for powering Mumbai Indians’ turnaround over Delhi Capitals:
“I believe Bumrah has a massive role to play. Sometimes, stats don’t capture his true impact — his influence isn’t always tangible. But just having him in the XI lifts the entire squad. I still remember that visual when Bumrah returned to the team — Kieron Pollard lifted him in his arms. That says everything about his value. That said, today was about Naman Dhir and SKY — the way they batted in the end overs. Those vital 48 runs in the last two overs completely shifted the momentum in MI’s favour. And with a champion side like Mumbai Indians, even the slightest window is enough — they’ll storm through with a roar, and that’s exactly what happened today.”
JioStar expert Ajay Jadeja praised the stunning late assault from Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir:
“They knew what they had to do, but they had left themselves with too much to get in the end. Still, these two were just incredible. I think Suryakumar Yadav played an exceptional knock, but it was Naman Dhir who really turned it around. Before Surya even got the strike in the 19th over, Naman had already smashed three sixes in a row — including a couple of slower ones out of the park. Then, in the final over, Surya started with that trademark shot and just took over. The bowlers had no answers to either of them. Scoring 48 runs in the last two overs — in a game where they had only reached 130 after 18 overs — tells you everything. In a 280-run match, 48 off two might seem normal, but here, it completely changed the momentum. That has to be the moment that turned the game on its head.”
Saba Karim also questioned Delhi Capitals’ bowling choices at the death:
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around this — why would Mukesh Kumar bowl four express deliveries in the 19th over, when throughout the match it was the slower ones, the knuckleballs, the change of pace that had worked so well for DC? They completely lost the plot, and that’s why they leaked so many runs at the end. The same happened in the 20th over — Dushmantha Chameera tried to bowl yorkers when there was no real need. Sticking to slower deliveries and variations would’ve likely produced a much better result.”
Saba Karim further highlighted how Suryakumar Yadav thrived on a difficult surface while others struggled:
“On a track that looked difficult for most batters, it just shows the gulf in quality between Suryakumar Yadav and everyone else — not just from his team but also from DC’s lineup. He was way ahead in terms of thought process — methodical, calculative. He’s said it often — he waits for the big over, and that came in the 19th, which he carried into the 20th. Naman Dhir gave good support, but SKY’s patience is what sets him apart. This was a special knock. We’ve seen him do it time and again when the pitch has been challenging. Today was another one of those nights — and not just his team, the whole Wankhede wanted him to fire.”
Ajay Jadeja also credited Mitchell Santner for his smart use of the conditions:
“On a day when the other two spinners conceded 47 runs in four overs, Santner’s spell of 4 for 11 shows how well he bowled and how effectively he read the game. It’s never just about the conditions — it’s about how you use them. The standout aspect of his bowling was his consistency, mixing deliveries that spun with those that went on with the arm.”
