IPL 2017: Ben Stokes' over made the difference, feels Harbhajan Singh

Mumbai Indians' veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh said it was Ben Stokes' 19th over of the innings that made the difference moments after their three-run loss to the Rising Pune Supergiant at Wankhede Stadium on Monday night

MI spinner Harbhajan Singh

Mumbai Indians' veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh said it was Ben Stokes' 19th over of the innings that made the difference moments after their three-run loss to the Rising Pune Supergiant at Wankhede Stadium on Monday night.

"Ben Stokes' over was actually a very a crucial over. We did not get a boundary in that over. That over actually changed the scenario and they were back in the game. With 17 to win (off the last over) they were always in the game," said Harbhajan at the post-match press conference.

With MI needing 17 in the last over, RPS' opener Ajinmkya Rahane admitted it was a tough call to pick the bowler who would bowl that all-important over. "After the 19th over (Steven) Smith, Mahibhai (Dhoni) and I discussed who we should ask to bowl - Shardul (Thakur) or Jaydev (Unadkat). We went with Jaydev because with Shardul having good pace, we didn't want the batsmen to take advantage of that pace. Comparatively Jaydev has lesser pace than Shardul and his slower ball could also be quite effective on the Wanklhede wicket," said Rahane.

Unadkat justified the faith of the Pune think-tank by dismissing MI skipper Rohit Sharma (58 off 39 balls) and Hardik Pandya (13), and also effecting the run out of Mitchell McClenaghan (0) as the neighbours inflicted a tough three-run defeat on MI, who were on a six-match winning streak till then.

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