Former RCB coach Sanjay Bangar blames Trent Boult for Mumbai Indians' IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 loss

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Sanjay Bangar has blamed Trent Boult for the shift in momentum and limiting captain Hardik Pandya's bowling options with the dropped catch of Nehal Wadhera. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 eliminator, Wadhera was dropped when he was batting on just two runs. Wadhera went on to share a crucial partnership with captain Shreyas Iyer and scored 48 runs from 29 balls.

Bangar feels that Wadhera's dropped catch prevented Pandya from using left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner against Shashank Singh or Marcus Stoinis in the middle overs.

"I think it had a lot of flow-on effect. Yes, Boult dropped the catch — but what followed was key. At that time, Santner was bowling beautifully, and Wadhera was just getting started, playing cautiously. That drop meant 12 crucial deliveries from Santner, which could’ve gone to someone like Shashank Singh or Marcus Stoinis, were instead spent on a set Wadhera. That forced Hardik to turn to other bowling options like Reece Topley. So it wasn’t just the drop — it altered the match dynamics significantly," Bangar said on JioStar.

Santner bowled just two overs and conceded 15 runs. Topley who made his IPL debut in the absence of an injured Richard Gleeson, conceded 40 runs from three overs.

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Bangar hails Inglis for unsettling Bumrah

Bangar also credited Josh Inglis for taking on Jasprit Bumrah in powerplay overs, scoring 20 runs off the fifth over. Former India all-rounder believes that Inglis' onslaught did not let BUmrah dominate the proceedings and provided a mental boost as well.

"I think Inglis’ fierce intent to take on the best bowler and make a statement to the dugout was absolutely crucial. In a shortened game — 16 or 17 overs — you usually assume Bumrah will go for under 30. But Inglis didn’t play the reputation; he played the ball. He made sure the hype around Bumrah didn’t weigh on the other batters. By attacking him early, he chipped away at Bumrah’s aura — and that kind of bold approach lifts the confidence in the dugout. It was a huge mental boost for Punjab Kings," said the 52-year-old.

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Inglis contributed with a 21-ball 38. He was dismissed by Pandya. On the other hand, Bumrah went wicketless and conceded 40 runs from his quota of four overs. Iyer's unbeaten 41-ball 87 helped PBKS chase down the target of 204 with one over to spare and five wickets in hand.