Defending Champions Gujarat Qualify for Final

[00:00:00] in association with Lloyd, Khyal Jo Ghar Ko Ghar Banai.

[00:00:07] Let's just call this the Indian Shubman Lee, should we? I mean has there been a more impressive

[00:00:19] run like this ever? Four innings, three centuries, I mean three centuries within 11 days and

[00:00:25] today Shubman's 129 had an added bonus. It helped his Gujarat team beat Mumbai to

[00:00:31] the final against Chennai with me of course is Ayaz Memon. Ayaz we will discuss Shubman

[00:00:37] in detail in a bit but just the win that he helped his team close after Gujarat got 233

[00:00:43] on the board, did you think even a little that Mumbai were in the game at all after that?

[00:00:49] I mean it was always going to be a tall order. I didn't put it beyond Mumbai because

[00:00:53] they've got a very strong and long batting line up but they needed people

[00:00:57] batsmen firing from the very start it didn't happen when you're chasing 233, 234 for a win

[00:01:02] that's more than 11 runs per row from the very beginning. So you need all your big guns to fire

[00:01:08] and they had an injury to Ishan Kishan, he didn't open the innings, he upset the batting order

[00:01:13] then they had injury to Cameron Green and before that of course they lost Rohit very early, very cheaply

[00:01:19] so in that sense it was good, it just became more and more difficult.

[00:01:23] Though Surya Kumar Yadav once again you know showed glimpses as to why he's probably the most

[00:01:29] most threatening and the most wonderful player to watch in this format in the world.

[00:01:35] That is true, we will discuss a lot, we will talk about him a lot in this podcast

[00:01:39] but let me just take you all through the score through which Sharma won the toss

[00:01:43] and M. Dabadan after the delayed start actually due to Rain and he elected to bowl.

[00:01:48] The bowlers in fact made a good start allowing Shubman and Sahar to score just 38 in the first five overs.

[00:01:54] In the sixth over though Shubman started warming up a 6-4 off Chris Jordan

[00:01:59] and while Sahar fell in the next over on 18 to Piyush Chawla, Sai Sudarshan

[00:02:04] and Gill continued the charge, Gill completed his 50 in the 10th over and pretty much dealt in sixes

[00:02:09] after that completing his century in the 15th over of 49 deliveries, his third this season.

[00:02:16] Cameron Green was hit for 19 runs in that over and two overs later

[00:02:20] Akash Madhwal finally got the breakthrough, Shubman out on 129.

[00:02:25] Gujarat were 192 for 2 when he got out after which Haridhik Pandya smashed 28 off 13

[00:02:31] and Sai Sudarshan also made a handy 43 off 31 as Gujarat posted a massive 233 for 3.

[00:02:38] Mumbai had a tall chase and they faced a setback at the very start

[00:02:42] with Isha and Kishan not opening after hurting his eye.

[00:02:45] Following a sort of collision with Chris Jordan while Gujarat batted

[00:02:49] impact player Nehal Vadera opened with Rohit but both hardly did much.

[00:02:53] Nehal got out on 4, Rohit on 8 and Mumbai were 21 for 2 in 2.2 overs.

[00:02:59] Cameron Green too left the field for a bit like I had said

[00:03:02] after getting hit on his forearm, Suria and Tilak then were out in the middle

[00:03:07] and Tilak smashed Shammi for 24 runs in the fifth over hitting 1, 6 and 4, 4s.

[00:03:12] Mumbai were 65 for 2 after 5 overs looking promising

[00:03:16] but Rashid struck in the next over sending Tilak back

[00:03:19] and Cameron returned to resume his innings.

[00:03:22] He played for about 6 more overs before getting out to Josh Little on 30.

[00:03:26] Suria Kumari Adav though had the weight of the chase on him

[00:03:30] and he did soldier on scoring 61 before getting out to Mohit Sharma.

[00:03:35] Wicked started the spiral with Vishnu Vinod falling in the same over

[00:03:39] and then Tim David in the next from 149 for 4 in 14.

[00:03:44] Mumbai were 161 for 7 in 16.

[00:03:46] It was a male formality from there as Mumbai lost by a massive 62 runs

[00:03:51] ending their campaign.

[00:03:53] I usually start by asking you who your player of the game is

[00:03:56] but I sort of know the answer to this one.

[00:03:58] So let me ask you a more Shubham focused question.

[00:04:01] Have you seen a run like this in this tournament across seasons we've had so far?

[00:04:06] I mean 3 centuries within 11 days.

[00:04:08] Kevin Peterson even in that commentary was saying it's probably the best run

[00:04:11] across season in all, across seasons.

[00:04:16] Yeah I mean look if I remember correctly 2016 Virat Kohli had a golden run

[00:04:21] I think he made about 900 runs in that season.

[00:04:24] So in terms of runs obviously he scored more than Shubham.

[00:04:28] Shubham of course one more inning to go.

[00:04:30] But the manner in which he just picked up tempo Shubham

[00:04:33] and he's just reeling off centuries and centuries which matter

[00:04:36] they are leading to wins for his team.

[00:04:39] He's got his team into the final and well another knock like this

[00:04:43] and he might regain the title so it's a golden run.

[00:04:47] There's no question about it and he's batting in such fantastic,

[00:04:50] stupid form is the quality of his batsmanship

[00:04:54] the class that comes through, the wide repertoire of his strokes

[00:04:58] and of course he's just so intimidating because he's got the power

[00:05:02] he's got poise and he's got power.

[00:05:04] He's hitting sixes at will.

[00:05:06] I can't think of any bull.

[00:05:07] I mean he just demolished Mumbai's best bowlers Madhavala and Piyush Jauhla.

[00:05:12] You know if they had not been so badly mauled

[00:05:17] maybe just maybe Mumbai would have started to do a chance but it wasn't to be.

[00:05:21] You know Mumbai of course, sorry Gujarat of course had a young star

[00:05:25] scoring that century he's been a star for them and he was expected to do well

[00:05:29] when the season started Shubham but you know Mohit Sharma

[00:05:32] when the season started not many thought that he'd even be playing a game

[00:05:35] I mean he was a net polar for them last season he was picked up

[00:05:38] and you know he just started this season picked up two wickets

[00:05:41] I think in his first game around I think after the Kolkata game

[00:05:45] when they played a match against Punjab I think in April

[00:05:48] it was just that it's just been a run and today five wickets

[00:05:51] and you know I mean it's just such a great amazing Cinderella story as well here right

[00:05:55] I mean not just among the batters but the bowlers also doing really well

[00:05:58] and of all of them in Mohit Sharma.

[00:06:00] In fact if you look at the top wicket takers of the season

[00:06:03] there's three in the top four from Gujarat.

[00:06:06] The top three are from Gujarat.

[00:06:09] I mean that comes to I mean that explains why they've done so well

[00:06:13] they had a bit of a stutter in the middle if you remember

[00:06:15] they lost a couple of matches but then they came back very strongly

[00:06:18] yes I mean Gil has been brilliant but it's their bowlers the depth in their bowling

[00:06:22] is as much I mean he picked up two wickets early today got rid of Rohit Sharma

[00:06:26] you know that was a very very big wicket in this match

[00:06:29] and then of course they've got Rashid Khan who just comes up

[00:06:32] you know he's got a golden arm like Gil has shown golden form

[00:06:36] and he's absolutely marvelous in my opinion he's the most valued T20 player in the world

[00:06:42] you know I mean without a doubt with bat certainly with the ball and in the field

[00:06:47] and then you've got Mohit Sharma yes you're right I mean what a great story he's made

[00:06:51] you know the Cinderella story you've talked about

[00:06:54] so it's not just young Indians or young boys who are coming from remote parts of India

[00:06:59] Interland and coming good in the India T20 League which makes fantastic stories

[00:07:04] but it's also these comeback guys to a lesser extent even Piyush Chawla

[00:07:08] but to a far greater extent Mohit Sharma

[00:07:11] that is true but also let's just talk about one player who ended up on the losing side today

[00:07:15] and you really really felt for him I mean Surya Kumar Yadav

[00:07:18] I think they said in commentary that was the longest player took to you know

[00:07:22] reach his dugout after getting out because he was just heartbroken after

[00:07:26] because he knew it but you know if this was going to be a successful run

[00:07:30] he had to stay at the crease especially with Ishaan not batting with Rohit Sharma

[00:07:34] you know also getting out early so he had to be there he

[00:07:37] I mean 73 were needed when of 33 when he got out so that just shows you know how close he did get them

[00:07:42] I mean as close as he could if but you know I mean he's had a tremendous season

[00:07:47] he didn't start so well but you know towards the end he's had a crazy crazy season

[00:07:51] but just a little heartbreak for him at the end

[00:07:53] it was yes I mean and he had everybody on 10terlooks including his own dugout

[00:07:58] the man in which he was batting it almost seemed that you would take them home single handed

[00:08:03] you know of course Gujarat must have been feeling the pressure

[00:08:06] you know and perhaps I sensed a little bit of panic also

[00:08:10] you know in the way especially after Shammi got hit by Tilak Varma

[00:08:15] that it was just kind of looked a little in disarray but I think Hardik Pandya

[00:08:20] just kind of controlled the game well at that point in time

[00:08:23] and everybody knew that if Gujarat got Surya Kumar Yadav

[00:08:29] the match was in their pocket but if Surya Kumar Yadav batted for 3-4 overs more

[00:08:33] at that stage then Mumbai would be in the chance because the last 20-25 runs

[00:08:37] you could get from whoever is there possibly

[00:08:40] but if you get Surya Kumar Yadav with 70-80-75 remaining

[00:08:44] then it's going to be a very very tough task which it turned out to be

[00:08:47] Yeah but it also sort of turned out to be a tough task because

[00:08:50] I mean you know Ishan of course wasn't batting but

[00:08:53] the openers didn't really do much and you know a lot of that has

[00:08:56] I mean we have to talk about Rohit Sharma 3-24 runs in 16 matches this season

[00:09:00] he did score that half century I think in the last of the league stage matches

[00:09:04] and we were very hopeful but then you know we haven't seen a repeat of that form

[00:09:08] how do teams like

[00:09:11] what do they do after the season like this

[00:09:14] traditionally I asked do they have like a meeting before like departing

[00:09:17] because of course we know Rohit needs to leave for the World Test Championship final

[00:09:20] but do they all have a conversation and when you know somebody as important

[00:09:23] as Rohit is sort of

[00:09:25] do well do they just take it as an aberration and just you know wait for the next season

[00:09:28] or are there conversations that I had

[00:09:30] No no I'm sure they'll have conversations nobody takes you know

[00:09:33] says oh the season's over now my job is over let me go and do

[00:09:36] my next assignment I don't think it will work like this

[00:09:39] all these guys are paid top dollars there's a lot of prestige

[00:09:42] there's a lot of money involved

[00:09:44] and obviously personal pride also comes in and Rohit Sharma has had

[00:09:47] a very mediocre season by his own high standards

[00:09:50] I thought he had just turned the corner in the last couple of matches

[00:09:54] he was batting well he got a half century but it wasn't to be

[00:09:57] and his own lack of runs from Rohit obviously cost his team dear

[00:10:02] because while Mumbai's batting was long and deep

[00:10:05] they needed runs at the top and especially in this match

[00:10:08] in this match when Ishan Kishan was injured

[00:10:11] and of course Kamal Grip got injured he came back

[00:10:13] but the momentum was gone and by that time of course Rohit was also gone

[00:10:17] so it just cost I think Mumbai a great deal

[00:10:20] Rohit's lack of runs

[00:10:22] So now we have on Sunday the last of our podcasts

[00:10:27] it's going to be Gujarat versus Chennai

[00:10:29] I think a lot of people would have thought of this final line up

[00:10:32] at least one of the teams at least Gujarat they would have predicted

[00:10:35] Chennai has had a massively amazing season this year

[00:10:39] major turnaround from last season

[00:10:41] we've had like what the defending champions and I think the last

[00:10:44] or second last team from last season reaching the final this time

[00:10:47] both in tremendous form they both reached the final

[00:10:50] with amazing massive victories

[00:10:53] it's also going to be about Shuman and what Dhoni has planned for him

[00:10:58] Yes absolutely I think Dhoni becomes a very central figure

[00:11:02] because he wears the captain's hat

[00:11:05] and he's just shown over the years that he's a maestro

[00:11:08] in terms of using tactics different tactics for different players

[00:11:13] and coming good so this is a challenge for him

[00:11:16] because Shuman Gill looks unstoppable irrepressible

[00:11:19] in the mood and form that he is in currently

[00:11:22] but about both the teams what I can say is that

[00:11:25] for sure consistency of excellence or of good performances

[00:11:30] in batting and bowling both we've seen Mumbai very good in batting

[00:11:34] occasionally good in bowling at least with Madhwal coming good

[00:11:37] and Piyushawala coming good yes

[00:11:39] but for Mumbai didn't have the same strength as in earlier years in their bowling

[00:11:45] Bangalore they missed out on bowling completely

[00:11:48] I mean they depended on three batsmen

[00:11:50] the batsmen delivered bowlers apart from Siraj, Mohan Siraj

[00:11:53] didn't do much at all so they suffered and they didn't even make it to the playoffs

[00:11:58] and so on Rajasthan I thought they had both depth in batting and bowling

[00:12:02] and then the first couple of weeks they looked extremely good

[00:12:05] but they just could not sustain their form

[00:12:07] so two things are clear you need to have depth in batting and bowling

[00:12:11] players need to be informed not just one or two players

[00:12:14] but at least a clutch of five six players in both batting and bowling

[00:12:18] and you need to be very consistently performing consistently

[00:12:24] it's not that you have two good days and four bad days

[00:12:26] you can't reach the final there

[00:12:28] That is true and as we bid farewell to Mumbai this season

[00:12:31] let's also talk about the Lord Coolest moment of the week

[00:12:34] I know you had a Mumbai player there

[00:12:36] can you talk about the moment that you chose?

[00:12:38] The coolest moment of the week for me was Madhwal, Akash

[00:12:42] Madhwal picking up five wickets for five runs in one match

[00:12:46] in the match before that four wickets

[00:12:48] and this is a guy who till about four years back wasn't even playing serious cricket so to speak

[00:12:54] he's a qualified engineer, comes from Uttarakhand

[00:12:58] and he was a surprise weapon for Mumbai

[00:13:02] and he came good because he just honed his skill so well

[00:13:07] remember he was filling in for Jaspreet Bumbra

[00:13:11] and those were really mighty shoes to fill

[00:13:13] but Madhwal has shown that there is so much talent in India

[00:13:18] and he's 29, he's not a rookie

[00:13:21] but I think he's made it a season for him to remember

[00:13:24] and of course everybody else has watched him play

[00:13:26] he was really cool this season

[00:13:28] Yes he was the coolest and you can of course watch IAAS's

[00:13:32] Lord Coolest moment of the week video on our website

[00:13:35] IAAS thank you so much for taking time out

[00:13:37] we will be back on Sunday night with the last of our podcast from this season

[00:13:41] Thank you Madhwal, catch up on Sunday

[00:13:59] you were listening to the quints podcast