Former Indian left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan commended seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his crucial role in Mumbai Indians’ six-wicket triumph over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. Thakur’s impressive figures of 3-39 earned him the player of the match title as Mumbai Indians secured a long-awaited victory in tournament opening games after 14 years.
Pathan highlighted Thakur’s fearless approach on the field, emphasizing his adept use of variations during bowling spells. He noted Thakur’s strategic grip changes before each delivery, enabling him to deceive batters with slower balls, cross-seam, and scrambled seam deliveries. Pathan praised Thakur’s proactive style, inviting batsmen to take risks and capitalizing on their aggression, despite not possessing express pace or significant swing.
In addition to Thakur’s performance, Pathan also praised wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton for his impressive 81-run knock and his partnership with Rohit Sharma, who scored a quickfire 61. Rickelton’s selection over Quinton de Kock proved beneficial as he showcased his expansive strokeplay and ability to target spinners effectively.
Reflecting on the match, ex-India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his belief that Kolkata Knight Riders missed an opportunity by underutilizing Sunil Narine in the power-play against Rohit Sharma. Singh suggested that deploying Narine early on could have provided KKR with a better chance to unsettle Mumbai’s batting lineup and create pressure. Despite Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton’s strong batting display, Singh felt that KKR’s captaincy lacked the necessary strategic decisions to counter Mumbai’s aggressive approach.
