Former India captain Kris Srikkanth delivered a humbling critique of Mumbai’s veterans after their emphatic win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, crediting the team’s shift towards younger players.
In his Cheeky Cheeka podcast, Srikkanth took a humorous swipe at the seasoned pacers Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakursuggesting that Mumbai would be better off without them on the field. “Thank God, they sent both Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar to the shed,” he said in his trademark light-hearted style.
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“At this point, I’m sure MI would have told them, ‘You two just go sit in the shed and don’t come out again,'” he added, punctuating his point with characteristic wit.
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Srikkanth pointed to the impact of Mumbai’s uncapped bowlers and praised their discipline and execution. He singled out young pacers Krish Bhagat and Ashwani Kumar for their performances, noting their ability to maintain consistent lengths under pressure.
“Just look at the lengths they bowled, the sheer discipline at Test match level,” he said, highlighting how the youngsters stepped up in the crucial match.
Ashwani, playing his first match of the season, returned impressive figures of 4 for 24 while Mitchell Santner took two wickets as Mumbai dismantled Gujarat’s batting line-up.
TILAK CENTURY SETS UP A DOMINANT WIN
Earlier, a stunning century from Tilak Varma laid the foundation for a commanding performance by Mumbai. The left-hander smashed 101 off just 45 balls to take his side to 199 for 5.
In response, Gujarat Titans never found the momentum Jasprit Bumrah struck first ball and dismissed Sai Sudharsan. The early strike triggered a collapse as the hosts were bowled out for just 100 in 15.5 overs.
Srikkanth also pointed to Gujarat’s fragile middle order, which once again struggled under pressure. The former opener suggested that a lack of consistency in that department continues to be a problem for the Titans.
The 99-run win helped Mumbai Indians snap a four-game losing streak and climb to seventh in the standings, a performance that offered a timely boost driven by youth and a renewed bowling edge.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
21 Apr 2026 12:57 IST
