Gavaskar Says Punjab Kings Let Victory Slip Against Mumbai Indians

Sunil Gavaskar believes Punjab Kings threw away a match they ought to have won, after Mumbai Indians chased down 200 with ease.

The match

Punjab batted first and reached 200 for 8, helped by a half-century from Prabhsimran Singh and a late burst from Azmatullah Omarzai, who hit 38 off 17 balls. Mumbai replied comfortably, led by Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 75 from 33 balls.

Gavaskar’s assessment

Speaking on JioStar, the former India captain noted that Punjab took 53 runs from the last three overs to pass 200 and appeared to hold the momentum. He said their bowling remains a worry and that Shreyas Iyer’s failure hurt, since Punjab usually add another 20 to 30 runs when he scores. He was also surprised that Bartlett, who has been expensive, was not given the new ball on a helpful pitch.

Gavaskar praised Omarzai’s display with bat and ball and suggested Punjab keep backing him, while looking at Marcus Stoinis for extra batting depth.

Punjab’s slide

Punjab started the season strongly, winning six of their first seven matches with one washout, but have now lost five in a row, putting their playoff hopes under pressure. Their next game is a must-win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala.

Sanjay Bangar, the former cricketer and Punjab head coach, has proposed changes, including a possible recall for left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar, given the day-game conditions and RCB’s comfort against pace.