'You don’t want to rely on other teams’ results' - Anil Kumble on MI and GT's chances after thrilling match

Anil Kumble spoke about the thrilling match between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans played on May 6.  The JioHotstar expert claimed that the last over of the match sealed the deal for GT. He said that the focus of the bowler was not to concede a boundary. Kumble felt a low bounce, and the presence of the dew factor made it difficult for Deepak Chahar.

The former MI Mentor felt Rahul Tewatia and Gerald Coetzee had what they needed to clear the fence in the last over. Kumble claimed it to be an outstanding game of cricket whose result was dependent on the last over of the match. The former RCB skipper said that GT held their nerves better amidst the interruption of rain multiple times in the match.  

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"Last over sealed the deal. As a bowler in that situation, your primary thought is not to concede a boundary. With the dew and low bounce, it became even easier for GT. When you have two batters who can clear the ropes and a mindset like Coetzee's — he said post-match, ‘see ball, hit ball’ — it’s tough to stop," said Kumble on JioHotstar.

'GT needs to win just one of their 3 games, MI must win both upcoming games" - Anil Kumble

"It was an outstanding game of cricket — after 38 overs, it all came down to that one over. Both teams had to reset multiple times due to interruptions, and in the end, GT held their nerve," Kumble added.

The former Indian bowler felt 16 points would not be enough for MI to qualify by their might. He claimed that the 5-time champions had to win both of their matches to qualify on their terms, while a win in their 3 matches was enough for GT's qualification.

"18 points should secure a play-off spot. GT needs to win just one of their remaining three to get there. For Mumbai, they must win both upcoming games. At 16 points, things can get tricky — you don’t want to rely on other teams’ results. From winning six in a row to losing today, MI won’t want to take it to the wire. Winning both games is a must to control their destiny," Kumble added.