Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir were incredible, says Ajay Jadeja
Speaking on Kuhl Fans show of JioStar, Jadeja said they knew what they had to do, but they had left themselves with too much to get in the end
HYDERABAD: JioStar expert Ajay Jadeja praised the stunning late assault from Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir which helped Mumbai Indians knock out Delhi Capitals in the IPL on Wednesday night in Mumbai.
Speaking on Kuhl Fans show of JioStar, Jadeja said 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 really 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,” Jadeja explained.
“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,” he said.
Jadeja also praised left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. “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,” he said.
“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,” Jadeja said.
Another JioStar expert Saba Karim said he believed Bumrah had a massive role to play. “Sometimes, stats don’t capture his true impact — his influence isn’t always tangible. But just having him in the XI lifts the entire squad. I still remember that visual when Bumrah returned to the team — Kieron Pollard lifted him in his arms,” Saba said.
“That says everything about his value. That said, today was about Naman Dhir and SKY — the way they batted in the end overs. Those vital 48 runs in the last two overs completely shifted the momentum in MI’s favour. And with a champion side like Mumbai Indians, even the slightest window is enough — they’ll storm through with a roar, and that’s exactly what happened today,” he explained.
