New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Former India batter Ajay Jadeja lauded Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir for laying the foundation of Mumbai Indians’ massive 59-run win over Delhi Capitals to seal the final playoffs spot on Wednesday.
Suryakumar struck 73 off 43 balls, including four sixes and seven fours, while Dhir produced a cameo knock of 24 in eight balls to power MI to 180/5 at Wankhede Stadium. Then, Mitchell Santner and Jasprit Bumrah bagged three scalps each as DC crumbled to 121 all out, sending the five-time champions to the knockout stages.
“They knew what they had to do, but they had left themselves with too much to get in the end. Still, these two were just incredible. I think, Suryakumar Yadav played an exceptional knock, but it was Naman Dhir, who turned it around. Before Surya even got the strike in the 19th over, Naman had already smashed three sixes in a row — including a couple of slower ones out of the park. Then, in the final over, Surya started with that trademark shot and just took over.
“The bowlers had no answers to either of them. Scoring 48 runs in the last two overs — in a game where they had only reached 130 after 18 overs — tells you everything. In a 280-run match, 48 off two might seem normal, but here, it completely changed the momentum. That has to be the moment that turned the game on its head,” Jadeja said on JioStar.
Jadeja also credited Mitchell Santner for his smart use of the conditions to dismantle Delhi’s middle order. “On a day when the other two spinners conceded 47 runs in four overs, Santner’s spell of 4 for 11 shows how well he bowled and how effectively he read the game. It’s never just about the conditions — it’s about how you use them. The standout aspect of his bowling was his consistency, mixing deliveries that spun with those that went on with the arm,” he added.
Former cricketer Saba Karim further highlighted how Suryakumar Yadav thrived on a difficult surface while others struggled and said, “On a track that looked difficult for most batters, it just shows the gulf in quality between Suryakumar Yadav and everyone else — not just from his team but also from DC’s lineup. He was way ahead in terms of thought process — methodical, calculative. He’s said it often — he waits for the big over, and that came in the 19th, which he carried into the 20th.
“Naman Dhir gave good support, but SKY’s patience is what sets him apart. This was a special knock. We’ve seen him do it time and again when the pitch has been challenging. Today was another one of those nights — and not just his team, the whole Wankhede wanted him to fire.”
–IANS
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