Hardik Pandya Furious: ‘No-Balls are a Crime’ After Mumbai Indians’ Heartbreaking Loss to Gujarat Titans

In a dramatic showdown at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a gut-wrenching three-wicket defeat via the DLS method to Gujarat Titans (GT) in a nerve-wracking IPL encounter. MI captain Hardik Pandya didn’t mince words post-match, labeling the no-balls bowled by his team—including two from himself—as nothing short of a ‘crime‘ in the high-stakes world of T20 cricket.

The match, which marked the end of Mumbai’s impressive six-match winning streak, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with rain interruptions, crucial errors, and a thrilling one-over shootout deciding the outcome. Despite MI being ahead by five runs on the DLS chart after 18 overs during a heavy downpour, GT seized their chance in the final over, needing 15 runs off six balls to clinch victory.

With MI penalized for a slow over rate—allowing only four fielders outside the inner circle—Deepak Chahar took the ball for the decisive over. The pressure was palpable as he conceded a boundary and a towering six off the first two deliveries, narrowing the equation to five runs off three balls. A costly no-ball then tilted the scales firmly in GT’s favor, handing them the momentum and ultimately the match.

Hardik, reflecting on the loss, didn’t shy away from pointing out the critical mistakes. ‘The no-balls, including my own, are a crime in T20s. More often than not, they bite you,’ he said, visibly frustrated. Earlier in the game, Hardik himself overstepped twice during his spell, contributing to MI’s tally of errors. Additionally, a dropped catch of GT skipper Shubman Gill in the 12th over by Tilak Varma proved costly, allowing Gill to capitalize and steer his team closer to the target.

Despite the defeat, Hardik praised his team’s resilience. ‘I’m really happy with the boys for giving their 120 percent. We stayed in the game till the end and didn’t give up,’ he noted. MI’s bowlers, led by the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah (who dismissed Gill and Shahrukh Khan) and Trent Boult (who trapped Sherfane Rutherford lbw), fought hard to defend a sub-par total of 155/8. The batting effort was salvaged by Will Jacks’ 53, alongside contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (35) and Corbin Bosch (27), but Hardik admitted they were short by 20-30 runs. ‘This wasn’t a 150-wicket; it was more like a 175-wicket. We didn’t bat well enough,’ he candidly confessed.

The match was repeatedly interrupted by rain, adding another layer of complexity. ‘The ball kept getting wetter after the first innings, and frequent stoppages weren’t ideal. But the game goes on, and we had to adapt,’ Hardik explained, acknowledging the challenging conditions. While the rain briefly swung momentum in MI’s favor as they awaited a potential DLS win in the dressing room, GT stayed poised, ready to pounce on any opportunity.

In the end, it was a game of fine margins, as Hardik aptly summarized: ‘We fought well with the total we had. Most of the time, we were out of the game, but we pushed as a unit.’ Yet, the bitter taste of defeat lingers for Mumbai Indians, who now must regroup and address their costly lapses—especially those unforgivable no-balls—as they head into the next phase of the IPL. For Gujarat Titans, this victory is a testament to their composure under pressure, making them a formidable contender in the playoff race.