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Delhi Capitals (DC) played with a depleted side against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the must-win game at Wankhede Stadium on May 21. Despite missing the likes of Mitchell Starc and captain Axar Patel, DC were impressive till the last two overs of MI's innings. In the last two overs, Mukesh Kumar and Dushmantha Chameera conceded 48 runs, which led to a massive shift in momentum for the home side. As DC lost the match by 59 runs, head coach Hemang Badani criticised Mukesh and Chameera for not going for cutters and wide yorkers.
"Until then, the 18 overs that were bowled by us were consistent, were spot on," Badani said in the post-match press conference.
"Our execution wasn't to our expectation in the end. Those 48 runs in the last two overs were a big difference. [We should] be able to read the game better, be able to understand that the surface was slower. We could have gone to the cutters and wide yorkers. Even if you look to nail yorkers at this level, you would expect bowlers of international level to come and nail those balls. And if you don't do that, players like Surya who's been around long enough, will punish you."
Mukesh, Chameera lose the plot in slog overs
Mukesh conceded 27 runs in the penultimate over. He had taken wickets of Will Jacks and Tilak Varma earlier. In the last over, Chameera conceded 21 runs. He got just one wicket of MI captain Hardik Pandya. The Sri Lankan pacer was expensive with the new ball as well conceding 15 runs including two sixes off Ryan Rickelton's bat in the first over.
Chameera and Mukesh's IPL 2025 statistics
Chameera has neither got crucial breakthroughs or bowled economically. He has got four wickets at an average of 42.75 from six games. His economy rate is 11.40 runs per over. He was preferred over Indian pacers T Natarajan and Mohit Sharma for the must-win game.
Mukesh has not been able to justify the Rs 8 crore price tag either. He has taken 11 wickets from as many games at an average of 32.63. His economy rate is 10.11 runs per over.
DC will play their last league stage against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on May 26. It will be interesting to see if Mukesh and Chameera retain their spots.
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