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"It Bites You": Hardik Pandya Owns Up To No-Ball Crime After Costly Defeat vs GT

Soumyajit Dutta

Hardik Pandya [Source: @rohan_gangta]Hardik Pandya [Source: @rohan_gangta]

Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes suffered a blow after a dramatic three-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in a rain-marred IPL 2025 clash at Wankhede Stadium. The contest, swinging on razor-thin margins, saw MI’s repeated no-ball errors.

The errors including two by captain Hardik Pandya and one in the decisive final over by Deepak Chahar, prove pivotal. The skipper, however, owned up to his mistakes in the post-match presentation.

Hardik Pandya’s Post-Match Reflections

Hardik Pandya minced no words while analysing the errors in their game at Wankhede. he opened up bluntly on the no-ball lapses.

“In my eyes in T20s it's a crime. Most of the times in T20 cricket, it bites you. It definitely did to us but at the same time, really happy that everyone gave their 120% and fought really well.” Pandya stated.

Reflecting on the total, he admitted that it was sub-par and a more competitive one could have made the cut.

“It was definitely not a 150 wicket. We were definitely short of 20-25 runs or maybe 30 runs if we would've batted well. Credit to the bowlers as they bowled in the right areas and kept fighting,” Pandya added.

Pandya also highlighted tactical missteps. “The slow-over penalty hurt. With four fielders out, Chahar faced an uphill task. We’ll learn, but margins define these games.”

Why Hardik Pandya Calls The No-Balls A Crime?

In the game, defending a modest 155/8, MI’s bowlers staged a valiant fightback, with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult reducing GT to 94/6. However, a slow-over rate penalty restricting MI to four boundary riders in the last over tilted the game, as Chahar’s costly no-ball sealed Gujarat’s comeback win.

Despite Will Jacks’ 53 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 35, MI fell short of a competitive total. GT’s chase, anchored by late resistance, capitalised on MI’s lapses, including Tilak Varma’s dropped catch of Shubman Gill. 

Weather interruptions added complexity, with a wet ball complicating bowling plans. While Bumrah (2/18) and Boult (2/24) kept MI alive, Chahar’s 19-run final over, featuring a no-ball and a six, underscored the team’s struggle to close high-pressure moments.