New Delhi, March 30 Former Indian left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan praised seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his contributions, highlighting his crucial role in Mumbai Indians' six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. He added that Thakur remains unfazed, even when batsmen are attacking him.
At the Wankhede Stadium, Thakur took 3-39 to be named player of the match as five-time champions MI started their campaign with a win, breaking their 14-year streak of losing in opening tournament games.
"He's not a bowler who gets intimidated, even when batsmen are attacking. He consistently comes at you. What stands out is how he uses his variations. Every time he starts his run-up, he's already changing his grip, whether it's for a slower ball, cross-seam, or even a scrambled seam delivery.
"He's always trying to make something happen. He invites batsmen to go for big shots and thrives on that. He doesn't have express pace or big swing, but he's constantly experimenting with different lengths and speeds, which is why he keeps picking up wickets," Pathan said on JioStar.
He also praised wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton for his commanding 81 and a 148-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, who scored a blistering 61. Preferred over his South African teammate Quinton de Kock, Rickelton showcased his expansive strokeplay and clarity in targeting spinners.
"Ryan Rickelton was outstanding. We discussed before the game that his form was better than Quinton de Kock's, and he showed exactly why. He has a wider range, especially on the off-side. That six over cover was a special shot.
"His shoulder alignment allows him to access those areas consistently and play in front of the wicket with control. Against spin, he was very clear, attacking from the first ball and looking for the slog sweep. That intent worked for him, and on a pitch like Mumbai, his style of batting is ideally suited," he added.
Ex-India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, meanwhile, felt that KKR missed an opportunity by not using Sunil Narine in the power-play against Rohit Sharma. "The best match-up was to bowl Sunil Narine in the Powerplay, at least one or two overs to target Rohit Sharma early. That was their best chance to pick wickets and put Mumbai under pressure.
"Instead, Narine didn't even complete his full quota, which shows the captaincy wasn't up to the mark. Credit to Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. They batted with ease and never let the bowlers settle, but KKR could have handled that phase much better," he added.
