Former India cricketers engage in debate over PBKS’ decision-making after six-wicket loss to MI in IPL 2026 

Former India cricketers Rohan Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag had different opinions over Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) decision to bring on Vishnu Vinod as an impact player in the first innings during the six-wicket loss to the Mumbai Indians (MI). The Shreyas Iyer-led side opted to bring in an extra batting option in the first innings, after being reduced to 140-7 in the 17th over in Dharamshala, on Thursday, May 14.

Vishnu Vinod scored an unbeaten 15 off eight deliveries as a final boost in the death overs helped PBKS cross the 200-run mark to post a competitive total. Using the impact player option before the second innings meant that PBKS could not bring a bowler on while defending the score.

PBKS had bowling options like Vijaykumar Vyshak and Harpreet Brar on the bench, but had to rely on all-rounders for the overs. Shreyas Iyer ended up using five bowling options, with Azmatullah Omarzai completing his quota of four overs as well.

However, the bowling unit could not prevent MI from chasing down the score with a ball to spare. The IPL 2025 finalists have now conceded atleast 200 runs in an innings across eight matches this season as they slumped to their fifth successive loss.

Former India cricketer Rohan Gavaskar defended the decision, stating that PBKS needed batting power at that stage to post a competitive score and put MI under pressure.

“If Vishnu Vinod was not there, PBKS might not have reached 200, so that was the right decision. If the target was not 200, then MI would have chased it down. If Vishnu Vinod had not come, you would have had an extra bowling option, but I still feel that the decision to use the impact player at that stage was the right call. What happens is that if you have a recognised batter at one end, it improves the confidence of other players at the crease. Unfortunately for PBKS, the way Tilak Varma batted, 200 got chased down,” he said on Cricbuzz.

Former India batter Virender Sehwag, on the other hand, argued that a specialist bowler’s four overs might have been more valuable than Vishnu Vinod’s cameo.

“If you take away those 15 runs, and compare it with the value of 24 balls or 12 that a bowler can bowl, you never know. Yes, PBKS did reach 200 with the help of those 15 runs, and if a bowler had come at that stage, the total might have been a bit less. There is not much difference between 190 and 200,” he countered.

PBKS had the option to turn towards the likes of Shashank Singh and Suryansh Shedge, who both bowl right-arm medium-pace on a part-time basis. However, given the conditions and the match situation, that route was not pursued.

“At one stage, we were probably looking at a total around 170 or 180” – Shreyas Iyer on PBKS’ finish with the bat against MI in IPL 2026

PBKS had to delpoy the impact sub option after a staggering collapse in the middle overs where they slumped to 140-7 from 107-1. Shardul Thakur’s double strike in the 12th over turned things around while the middle order were unable to cope.

“At one stage, we were probably looking at a total around 170 or 180, but Azmatullah completely shifted the momentum in our favour. Those crucial sixes around the 16th and 17th overs gave us the push we needed, and getting past 200 was a tremendous effort from him,” Shreyas Iyer said during the post-match presentation.

Vishnu Vinod struck two boundaries during his stay at the crease, and put on two partnerships worth 26 and 34 with Azmatullah Omarzai and Xavier Bartlett, respectively, in the death overs.