‘Somewhere something is missing.’ – Mohit Sharma opens up on final over performance that led to GT’s loss in IPL 2023 Final

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 championship game’s conclusion was yet another tale of happiness on one side and anguish on the other. When Ravindra Jadeja scored the winning runs at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, there was the jubilant joy of epic size on one side and utter despair on the other as Mohit Sharma broke down in tears after failing to hold on to a 13-run lead. Mohit opened up on those six deliveries and Jadeja’s brilliant moment a day after the crucial IPL final match.

Mohit stated to Indian Express that his strategy was evident because he has been in similar circumstances several times. He was also Gujarat Titans’ preferred bowler on Monday after taking two consecutive wickets in his previous over. “My mind was very clear in what I wanted to do. In the nets, I had practiced such situations and I have been in such scenarios before too. So I said let me bowl all balls yorkers and was backing my instinct,” Mohit was quoted as saying in the Indian Expres.

I just wanted to be focused and back myself: Mohit Sharma

Mohit was confident in his approach, but skipper Hardik Pandya approached him for a short talk. “They wanted to know what will be his plan of action. I said I will again try to bowl a yorker. People are now saying this and that but frankly it has no meaning. I knew what I wanted to do,” the right-arm seamer asserted.

The conversation did not go well for Mohit because on the penultimate ball when he misjudged his length and delivered a poorly cooked yorker, it was smacked over long-on for a six. Later, Mohit admitted that even though Jadeja struck that ball, he still supported himself to repeat what he had done in the first four balls. He said he intended to throw that ideal yorker towards Jadeja’s toes.

“I ran and tried to bowl (yorker) again. I just wanted to be focussed and back myself. Whole IPL I have done that. The ball landed where it shouldn’t have and Jadeja got his bat. I tried, I tried my best. I couldn’t sleep. Sochta raha kya alag karta joh match jeet jaate. What if I could have bowled this ball or that ball? It’s not a nice feeling now. Somewhere something is missing but I’m trying to move on,” the 34-year-old stated.