Late bowling change raised questions

Defending a modest target of 162 at Mallanpur on March 31, Gujarat Titans quickly started to take a backseat as the PBKS batsmen kept the chase under control.

Despite having last season’s Purple Cap winner in their team, GT decided to keep Prasidh until the 13th over – a move that surprised many, including Steyn.

When Prasidh was brought in to bowl, Punjab needed only 53 runs with that many wickets remaining. The decision appeared even more questionable given the state of the match, where GT desperately needed a breakthrough in the middle overs.

Once Prasidh was brought in, he made an immediate impact.

The tall fast bowler took three important wickets in his first two overs, suddenly swinging the momentum in GT’s favor and raising hopes of a dramatic turnaround.

However, this late surge proved insufficient. Punjab Kings held their nerve and chased down the target with five balls to spare, even though they lost seven wickets in the process. This game ultimately highlights how timing and strategic awareness can define T20 outcomes.

Dale Steyn questions Shubman Gill’s strategies in clash against PBKS

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Steyn suggested that Gujarat Titans are still trying to find the right balance at the start of the tournament.

According to him, the team combination may have contributed to mismanagement of bowling resources.

“He took wickets with them in the end, but he did it too late. You are always judging your team in the first two matches. So they found themselves with one batsman short and one bowler too many. When that happens, someone bowls less or bowls too late, like Prasidh here. When he takes three wickets in his first two overs, you start thinking that you wish you had used him earlier.

Siraj also only bowled. Bowled two overs, which shows that he has a lot of options and he is busy with options,” Stan said.

Steyn stressed the psychological challenge for bowlers like Prasidh when brought in late in high-pressure situations. He explained that bowlers need time to settle into the rhythm of the game and not be asked to deliver breakthroughs immediately.

“You want to feel the spirit of the game, if you’re famous. It’s very difficult to sit on the bench and then suddenly be tasked with doing something. So for him to do that and take that many wickets was impressive.

But you want to be in the game already, play an over, and be in a bit of a sweat. Feel the spirit and energy of the game to get the best out of the players. Waiting that long also puts pressure on the player,” Stan added.