Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar commented on Krunal Pandya’s performance while defending the score for RCB. He said: “I’ve always admired him for the sharpness with which he plays his cricket and in his thinking. He makes up with his temperament for any minor deficiencies he might have — and frankly, he doesn’t have too many. He’s a fine batter and a clever bowler. When he bowls, he actually reminds me of how Vinoo Mankad used to be. Mankad wasn’t a huge turner of the ball, but he had subtle variations — line and length, changes of pace, occasional bounce and even a high full toss kind of beamer. Krunal Pandya has that same kind of variety. No wonder the captain had the confidence to hand him the ball for the final over. That kind of trust speaks volumes.”
JioStar expert Mark Boucher assessed Mumbai Indians’ performance. He said: “They got off to a bit of a sluggish start. It was amazing to see Suryakumar batting with that kind of strike rate, trying to get it up. But then Tilak and Hardik got together, and Hardik had to go from ball one. Tilak Verma supported him really well, especially after what happened in the previous game. It was a fantastic partnership that brought MI back into the match. At that point, Josh Hazlewood had bowled two great overs. For Hardik to come in and smash him all over the park was a brilliant effort. Hardik hadn’t faced a ball until then, so he came in completely fresh when the game was on the line. The shots he produced in that over were exceptional and helped MI claw back with Tilak’s help.”
JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar also commented on Rajat Patidar’s performance. He said: “He certainly seems liberated as the leader, and he knows he’s got a solid group around him. He has seniors who are always willing to lend a hand, and a strong support staff. Someone like Dinesh Karthik — people don’t talk enough about his influence. DK is the kind of guy who, even on off days, spends time with younger players, offering guidance and inputs. Rajat is lucky to have that environment — a group that’s been hungry for success. Seventeen years without a title, and now they understand what needs to be done to win. With a relaxed, laid-back captain, others are also stepping up with their experience to help move the team forward.”
Commenting on Virat Kohli’s performance, JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar said: “The big difference over the last season and a half has been his intent to play lofted shots much earlier. Earlier, those lofted shots would come later in the innings, but now he’s looking to take risks from ball one, and that’s making a huge difference. Bowlers who were prepared for his drives and flicks are now seeing the ball going over the infield for boundaries. That change in mindset has thrown the bowlers off, and it’s working beautifully for him.”
Commenting on Jasprit Bumrah’s performance, JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar added: “The first and foremost thing was seeing him come in steaming and bowling at his usual pace — over 140 km/h. I believe that with a few more games under his belt, he’ll likely hit 150 km/h as he gains more confidence in his back and feels secure enough to bowl at full tilt. In T20s, where you’re not bowling long spells, it’s a lot easier for bowlers to stay sharp and bowl at full speed. That’s exactly what we saw with Bumrah. The way he bowled — if not for him — RCB might have scored 240–250.”
Commenting on Rohit Sharma’s performance, JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar added: “ Over the next couple of games, they’ll be hoping for a solid knock. Even if he doesn’t get a big score immediately, if he can bat through the power-play into the 8th or 9th over and score a steady 30–40, that will help build confidence. But when he gets out in the powerplay, it hurts — whether it’s for Mumbai Indians, India, or any team he’s playing for. He has so much to contribute. I believe his shot selection needs a bit of tempering. You have to be aggressive and score as much as possible in the first six overs, but choosing the right risks is key. If he finds that balance, he’ll be back to scoring big runs again.”
