Mumbai Indians (MI) dugout looked animated as the game slipped away from their grasp in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Often, head coach Mahela Jayawardene was seen giving instructions from the dugout. He even had a word with Jasprit Bumrah who was fielding on the boundary. All that transpired leading to MI's elimination did not go down well with the franchise's legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh. He criticised Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga for showing desperation and telling someone like Bumrah what to do.
"Look at the Mumbai Indians dugout. When they were leaking runs, there was way too much involvement from the outside. Coaches are telling a bowler like Bumrah what to do and what not. A dressing room needs to remain calm and composed. Coaches should only give advice. Don’t show desperation. So somewhere I felt that when this happens way too much, it breaks their spirit," Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel while analysing the Qualifier 2 clash at Narendra Modi Stadiuum, Ahmedabad on June 1.
Not just Bumrah, Harbhajan backed captain Pandya and five-time IPL-winning skipper with MI, Rohit Sharma. He feels the interference from the coaching staff was too much during the game.
"Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, these are big players. And when they are playing, let them do what they need to do to get the right result for the team. They have won many trophies together. They needed to be shown a lot more faith, but the coaching staff time and again was interfering and gesturing with their hands," added the legendary Indian off-spinner who played for MI for a decade.
Jayawardene on MI's 'blunders' on field
After the match, Jayawardene rued two dropped catches for MI's five-wicket loss. He credited PBKS for their execution.
"They were solid, especially chasing 200. It's not that easy. They've executed that pretty well. We made a few blunders obviously, with those two catches, but that's how the game goes. We had that luck going our way in the previous game. So I think it was a good game of cricket, and we came short. It's as simple as that," Jayawardene said in the post-match press conference.