WATCH : Rohit’s mid-break input to Pandya helps get rid of Pooran

Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to field first on the black soil track at Ekana. However, the decision initially backfired as Lucknow’s openers, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, powered their way to 69/0 at the end of the powerplay.

Mumbai’s breakthrough came in the seventh over, thanks to rising star Vignesh Puthur, who dismissed Marsh and ended the opening stand.

Following the wicket, a strategic timeout was called, and this is when Rohit Sharma made his presence felt.

Though ruled out of the match due to injury, Rohit walked onto the field during the break and went straight to Pandya. As the other Mumbai players grabbed drinks, the Indian white-ball captain passionately suggested a change in tactics.

Using hand gestures, he advised Pandya to bowl slower deliveries to Nicholas Pooran, anticipating the southpaw’s aggressive intent. The suggestion paid off almost immediately. On the fifth delivery of the ninth over, Pandya bowled a slower bouncer outside off-stump.

Pooran attempted to pull but mistimed it, with the ball getting a top edge and flying to short fine leg, where Deepak Chahar made no mistake. The well-executed dismissal, planned with Sharma’s timely input, not only gave Mumbai a crucial wicket but also set social media abuzz.

Updated: April 4, 2025 at 10:45 pm

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