IPL 2023 Final: Hardik Pandya Slammed By Netizens For Pep Talk To Mohit Sharma In Middle Of Last Over

Mohit Sharma had delivered a clinical fine over before GT led by Hardik Pandya perhaps tried to slow the game which proved decisive in the IPL 2023 final.

Hardik Pandya, who was on the verge of leading Gujarat to a famous win, was slammed by a few netizens as GT fell short of a record back-to-back IPL titles. ( Image Source :IPLT20/BCCI )

Cricket fans were treated to one amazing game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final practically rain on three different dates with the summit clash, originally set to be played on Sunday (May 28) getting rescheduled to May 29 (Monday) before rain interrupting the run-chase on Monday and forcing the game to come its conclusion on May 30 (Tuesday).

However, there were little reasons to complain as it was a nail-biting finish at Motera. The match went one way and the other before it was the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who came out on top to beat the Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets. While social media has been flooded with reactions which has hailed MS Dhoni-led CSK and Ravindra Jadeja for his last-over heroics, a few were not pleased with Hardik Pandya's decision in the last over.

Notably, Mohit, who was trusted with the final over and had been in great form throughout the tournament and even in the finals having scalped 3 wickets, stuck to his plan of going for the full length balls right at the blockhole to much success. In fact, with CSK needing 13 off the final 6 balls, the Men in Yellow had only managed to score 3 off the first 4 balls such was the accuracy of Sharma's deliveries.

However, it was here with 10 needed from 2 balls for CSK that GT captain Hardik Pandya was seen having a bit of a pep talk to the bowler. Some netizens pointed out that if anyone needed a break at this point in time, it was the batter who would have been under pressure as anything less than a boundary would have more or less drawn curtains to their game. Some even said that head coach Ashish Nehra shouldn't have sent a message to the experienced Mohit Sharma in the final over, especially when things have been going well for him.

Mohit Sharma first 4 Balls were Yorkers, went for just 4 Runs.

Then Hardik Pandya decided to eat some footage and broke his momentum with an unnecessary chat.

The next 2 balls his lines got disturbed , got smashed for a 6 and a 4 and GT lost the match. #IPL2023Finals

— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) May 29, 2023

Mohit Sharma bowled 4 perfect Yorkers and Super captain hardik Pandya gives somes baseless inputs and guess what , it costed him the game 💀

He Costed GT the 2nd title #IPL2023Finals#MSDhoni #CSKvsGT pic.twitter.com/JQz2oWSLZZ

— Cric8ly 🏏 (@MR_Alpha_21) May 29, 2023

As it turned out, Jadeja slammed a straight six off the fifth ball before Mohit erred big time on his line and length perhaps for the first time in the over bowling a full toss on leg stump which was helped away on its way by Jadeja for a boundary to help CSK win.