Sunil Gavaskar called out Hardik Pandya for his captaincy calls when reviewing Mumbai Indians’ dramatic last-ball defeat to Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede. Speaking after the three-wicket loss that pushed MI further behind in the playoff race, the India legend said Hardik Pandya's call to not bowl the final over himself could come back to haunt the franchise. “I think Mumbai Indians really have to sit down and talk about that. Because let’s face it, Deepak hasn’t really bowled in the last five overs before. This is one of those rare occasions. So I think that is where the game could have changed,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar about MI's decision to trust Deepak Chahar for the final over. Hardik, who had bowled just one over in the match, stepped aside in the crunch moment as MI tried to defend 15 runs off the last over in a rain-curtailed chase. Gavaskar pointed to the all-rounder's proven record in death-over situations, including the 2024 T20 World Cup final, to highlight why he should have taken responsibility. “He bowled the final over in Barbados, and India won. So yes, maybe he should’ve stepped up again.” Compounding MI’s problems was a slow over-rate penalty, which forced them to bring an extra fielder inside the circle for that final over. “These are the things that can cost you a playoff spot. Little things make a big difference in such close games,” Gavaskar warned. Also READ: “No-balls are a crime”: Hardik Pandya rues errors after last-ball loss to GT “Felt like a Test match”: Shubman Gill While Mumbai Indians faced questions over their captaincy choices, Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill was hailed for his all-round influence in a tense rain-hit contest. He was awarded the player of the match for his 46-ball 43 while chasing 156. Sunil Gavaskar, who adjudged the award, cited Gill’s “smart leadership” as a key reason for handing him the honour. During the post-match chat, Harsha Bhogle told Gill, “You were picked not just for your batting, but the way you captained through chaos.” Despite early setbacks in the chase, including the loss of Sai Sudharsan and a sluggish powerplay, Gill held one end up while making crucial bowling changes earlier in the match. His use of spin through Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan in the middle overs was pivotal in stalling MI’s acceleration. Gill’s decision to back Prasidh Krishna and Rashid with aggressive fields paid off, as MI failed to push past the 160-mark. Though the final flourish came from Tewatia and Coetzee, it was Gill’s composure that built the platform. “Most of the emotions were frustrating. But we knew we would get one more chance — and we made it count,” he said. With the win, GT climbed to the top of the points table, while MI are currently in the 4th spot with two matches to go.