'I think it had a lot of flow-on effect' - Sanjay Bangar calls Nehal Wadhera's dropped catch as turning point of MI's loss

Punjab Kings (PBKS) stunned five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Qualifier 2 clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening to enter their first IPL final in 11 years. The win, anchored by Shreyas Iyer’s captain’s knock and a crucial contribution from Nehal Wadhera, saw PBKS pull off the first-ever successful 200-plus run-chase against MI in IPL history. However, it was a dropped catch that former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes turned the game in PBKS’ favour.

Given a tough target of 204, Punjab’s chase almost went on the backfoot after Wadhera mistimed a pull shot off Hardik Pandya in the 10th over. Trent Boult, one of the safest and dependable fielders, dropped a regulation catch at fine leg, with the ball rolling away for four.

The southpaw who was batting at 13 at the time went on to score a 29-ball 48, lacing his innings with four boundaries and two sixes. The lifeline saw Wadhera stitch a match-winning partnership of 84 runs with Iyer. Speaking after the game, Bangar explained why the drop was more than just a missed opportunity.

"I think it had a lot of flow-on effect. Yes, Boult dropped the catch but what followed was key. At that time, Santner was bowling beautifully, and Wadhera was just getting started, playing cautiously. That drop meant 12 crucial deliveries from Santner, which could’ve gone to someone like Shashank Singh or Marcus Stoinis, were instead spent on a set Wadhera. That forced Hardik to turn to other bowling options like Reece Topley. So it wasn’t just the drop, it altered the match dynamics significantly," Bangar said on JioStar Match Centre.

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Inglis chipped away at Bumrah’s aura: Sanjay Bangar

Another incident that Bangar pointed out was Josh Inglis’ aggressive batting, especially the moment when he smashed 20 runs in a single over off Jasprit Bumrah, hitting two fours and two sixes.

"I think Inglis’ fierce intent to take on the best bowler and make a statement to the dugout was absolutely crucial. In a shortened game 16 or 17 overs you usually assume Bumrah will go for under 30. But Inglis didn’t play the reputation; he played the ball. He made sure the hype around Bumrah didn’t weigh on the other batters. By attacking him early, he chipped away at Bumrah’s aura and that kind of bold approach lifts the confidence in the dugout. It was a huge mental boost for Punjab Kings," he added.

Despite a few wickets falling in the middle, Punjab's skipper showed composure in the chase, remaining unbeaten on 87 off just 41 balls and taking his side home and becoming the first player to lead three different IPL franchises to a final. With this win, PBKS are set for a dream rematch against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final on Tuesday, June 03.