Hardik Pandya takes blame for Mumbai Indians' defeat but avoids final over talk: 'That, in my eyes, is indeed a crime'

Hardik Pandya took the blame for the two no-balls he bowled, which he felt were the reasons behind Gujarat Titans’ (GT) three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Tuesday. He also pointed out the no-ball Deepak Chahar bowled in the final over as GT won the low-scoring match at the Wankhede Stadium.

GT were given a revised target of 147 from 19 overs due to rain after MI posted 155/8. Chahar was asked to bowl the final over when GT still needed 15 runs, however, he failed to defend the runs and also bowled a no-ball.

Earlier in his only over, Pandya bowled two no-balls and gave away 18 runs.

Pandya takes blame for Mumbai Indians’ defeat

While he has faced criticism for not bowling the final over despite possessing more experience than Chahar, Pandya felt the no-balls were the “crime” that led to the loss. Not even the Tilak Varma dropping Shubman Gill on 35 as GT captain scored 43.

“The catches didn’t really cost us. We were very clinical with that,” Hardik said after MI’s defeat. “Maybe definitely with the no-balls, with my no-ball and even the last (over) no-ball.

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“That, in my eyes, indeed it’s a crime, and most often than not it kind of bites you. It definitely did to us, but at the same point of time, really happy with the boys giving their 120% and making sure that we are in the game and not giving up.”

Pandya also admitted that his team failed to put up a par score, as Will Jacks (53) was the only batter to post a fifty, and that the rain also impacted their momentum.

“It was definitely not a 150 wicket. I think it was a 175 [surface],” Hardik said. “We were definitely short in batting by 20-25 runs or maybe 30 runs if you would have batted well. But I think credit to the bowlers, they kept fighting and they kept bowling at the right areas.”

“In the first innings, the ground was not wet. Post that, throughout the whole innings, the ball kept getting wetter. I don’t know if it helped us or not helped us, but yeah, it was difficult. Rain kept coming in. It’s always not really ideal to have a stoppage and start again and have a stoppage. But the game goes on.”