Legendary Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at Deepak Chahar after Mumbai Indians suffered a three-wicket (DLS method) loss against Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in the ongoing IPL 2025 on Tuesday.
Chahar was given the task of defending 15 runs in the final over by captain Hardik Pandya but the fast bowler could not deliver. He was hit for a four on the first ball by Rahul Tewatia and was also taken for a six by Gerald Coetzee.
Furthermore, Chahar made the mistake of bowling a no-ball in the over as GT won the thrilling contest. Gavaskar noted that Chahar’s body language was not good in the final over.
Gavaskar said in commentary for JioHotstar, “Deepak Chahar’s body language is not good. It can’t be good after you’ve been hit for a boundary on the first ball. There is no excuse for a no-ball, let’s make that very clear. He could be bowling the first over at the death, but it is no excuse for a professional cricketer. In a format where it is not only an extra delivery, run and a free hit, there is simply no excuse.”
On the last ball, Hardik Pandya missed a direct hit from mid-off but Gavaskar reckons Chahar should have tried to go back at the stumps but he didn’t do that.
“Deepak Chahar should have made a move to get to the stumps. He was just standing at his follow-through. Even if the throw was not at the stumps, he could have collected it and maybe run the batter out. It is never easy for a bowler to come in and bowl after a break, but to bowl a no-ball, that is not acceptable at all,” said Gavaskar.
Mumbai Indians will next take on Punjab Kings on Sunday with the venue yet to be decided after Operation Sindoor.