Several fans took a dig at David and remember the utility of Pollard over various social media platforms.
Shubman Gill dropped by Tim David
The Mumbai Indians (MI), a team with a record five championship titles, exited the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 tournament following a resounding defeat of 62 runs at the hands of the Gujarat Titans (GT). This loss occurred on Friday, in a match held at the esteemed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The highly proficient Shubman Gill, displaying remarkable form, showcased his exceptional batting skills by scoring a magnificent century, amassing 129 runs off just 60 deliveries, including 7 boundaries and 10 sixes. Gill's outstanding performance played a pivotal role in securing the victory for the Gujarat Titans (GT). Notably, GT received a significant stroke of fortune when Gill, who was at 30 runs at the time, was dropped by Tim David. This proved to be a crucial moment for GT as the 23-year-old sensation went on to achieve his third century of the season. The incident unfolded during the final over of the power play, where MI skipper Rohit Sharma entrusted Chris Jordan with the ball.
Tim David's unsuccessful attempt to complete the catch proved to be a significant blunder, offering a substantial lifeline to Shubman Gill. During the crucial moment, a well-executed, fuller-length delivery found its mark, providing Gill with an ideal opportunity to play a lofted on-drive. However, despite David's valiant diving effort to his right, he was unable to successfully secure the catch, resulting in a missed opportunity for the Mumbai Indians (MI) fielder.
Furthermore, Tim David's performance with the bat was highly disappointing. The Mumbai Indians (MI) experienced a significant batting collapse, placing heavy reliance on the explosive Australian cricketer to guide them to victory with his aggressive batting style. However, after coming in to bat at the seventh position, David was given out leg-before-wicket (LBW) while attempting a pull shot against a well-pitched delivery from Rashid Khan.
In the aftermath of Mumbai Indians' defeat, fans expressed their discontent and directed criticism towards Tim David, holding him accountable for the team's loss. Numerous supporters lamented the absence of the powerful West Indies all-rounder, Kieron Pollard, who had retired from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pollard's remarkable ability to deliver impactful performances in similar challenging circumstances in the past was sorely missed, leaving fans longing for his significant contributions in crucial situations.
Numerous fans took to various social media platforms to express their discontent with Tim David's performance and reminisce about the invaluable contributions of Kieron Pollard. One fan sarcastically remarked, "Dropped a crucial catch of Gill when he was on 30 and failed to make an impact with the bat. Thank you, Tim David." Such sentiments highlight the disappointment and frustration felt by fans regarding David's performance and their acknowledgment of Pollard's previous effectiveness in similar situations.
Another fan took to Twitter to express their opinion, suggesting that the outcome of the match could have been different if Kieron Pollard had been in the playing XI. The fan emphasized the need for the Mumbai Indians to move on from Tim David and consider offering opportunities to deserving players in the upcoming season. Additionally, the fan expressed their belief that Tim David is overrated. This tweet reflects the fan's disappointment with David's performance and their desire for a change in the team composition moving forward.
Tim David's inconsistent form throughout the year led to Mumbai Indians' captain, Rohit Sharma, opting to promote young and relatively inexperienced batter Vishnu Vinod ahead of him in the batting order. Despite facing criticism from several experts for this decision, Rohit Sharma stood by his strategic choice and defended it. The move to send Vinod ahead of David was likely a tactical decision made to address the team's batting concerns and explore alternative options in an attempt to stabilize the innings.
In a critical turn of events, Vishnu Vinod was brought in as a concussion substitute to fulfill the wicketkeeping duties following Ishan Kishan's unfortunate head injury caused by a accidental collision with teammate Chris Jordan. However, Vishnu's contribution with the bat during a crucial phase was limited to five runs off seven balls. He was sent to bat ahead of the hard-hitting Tim David, after Cameron Green's dismissal in the 12th over. This decision aimed to capitalize on Vishnu's batting abilities in the hopes of consolidating the team's position during a pivotal phase of the match.
Cricket experts expressed their opinion that Tim David should have been sent to bat instead of Vishnu Vinod. The rationale behind this viewpoint was that allowing the Australian player to come in earlier would have provided him with more time to get settled at the crease and unleash his powerful shots during the crucial death overs of the innings. However, the decision to send David to bat was delayed until the 15th over. This delay occurred as both Suryakumar Yadav, who had scored 79 runs, and Vishnu Vinod were dismissed in that particular over by Mohit Sharma, necessitating David's entry into the batting lineup.
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, expressed his trust in Vishnu Vinod and made it clear that he would not pass judgment based on Vishnu's performance. Despite the outcome, Rohit Sharma stood by his decision to include Vishnu in the batting lineup and maintained confidence in the young player's abilities. This statement reflects Rohit's supportive approach towards his team members, emphasizing the importance of faith and backing players, regardless of the immediate results.
Rohit Sharma explained the team's strategy by highlighting Tim David's assigned role throughout the season. He acknowledged that there are specific situations where David is expected to bat. However, Rohit also expressed his belief in Vishnu Vinod's abilities as a skilled player, drawing from his personal observations. Rohit emphasized that he would not pass any judgment based on the outcome of a single performance, indicating his continued support for Vishnu and his trust in the team's decision-making process.