Gavaskar slams Hardik Pandya for disturbing Mohit Sharma's rhythm during last over of IPL 2023

After the end of the IPL final, many cricket experts, including former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar, questioned Gujarat Titan skipper Hardik Pandya's decision to have a chat with bowler Mohit Sharma during the last over of the match.

Gavaskar has blamed Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya for disturbing the rhythm of Mohit Sharma who had conceded just 3 runs in his first four balls of the over. CSK won this season's IPL in a scintillating last-ball finish against Gujarat Titans. 13 was needed off the last over and Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja were at the crease. The pair could take off first four balls bowled by Mohit Sharma.

In the next two balls, Mohit Sharma missed his rhythm. The GT bowler tried a yorker but it landed slightly short and Jadeja smacked a six over long-on in the fifth ball of the over. Mohit tried to bowl a low full toss in the sixth ball but again missed the mark. Jadeja swiped bowled the low full toss down the leg side for a four to give CSK a record-equalling fifth IPL title and spark wild celebrations.


"Mohit had bowled the first 3-4 delivery absolutely brilliantly. But for some strange reason, some water was sent to him. In the middle of the over, some drink was sent to him. Then Hardik Pandya came and spoke with him," Sunil Gavaskar told a India Today TV channel.

"When a bowler is in that rhythm , nobody should have said anything to him. Maybe from a distance, they could have just said 'well bowled'. Going to and talking to him - I do not think that was the right thing to do because suddenly, he was looking here and there," Gavaskar said.

Speaking about the match, Gavaskar said it was a type of final that such a big tournament like IPL deserves. Mohit Sharma who had a good IPL season opened up about the last over.

"My mind was very clear about what I wanted to do. In the nets, I had practiced such situations and I have been in such scenarios before too. So I said let me bowl all balls yorkers and was backing my instinct," Mohit told Indian Express.

"I ran and tried to bowl (yorker) again. I just wanted to be focussed and back myself. Whole IPL I have done that. The ball landed where it shouldn't have and Jadeja got his bat. I tried, I tried my best, " said Mohit.