Chennai: The versatile hard-core Pandya has not bowled in the last three IPL matches due to a shoulder-length cousin he picked up during the final ODI against England, Mumbai head coach Mahela Jayawardene said on Monday.
‘… we were looking forward to him bowling this season … he has already returned from injury, but after the games against England, the last ODI, I believe he picked up a cousin, so it is something we are nursing for at the moment, ”Jayawardene said during a virtual press conference.
However, the former Sri Lankan batsman hoped that Hardik would be able to bowl again in the next few weeks. “We do not want to risk it, because it is important that we make sure that he (Hardik) comes in comfortably and bowls. Hopefully we will see him bowl over the next few weeks, with a little work and all that, ‘he said.
“It’s not that we’re deliberately trying not to bowl him, we want him to bowl, but once the cousin is down and he’s comfortable, we should be able to use the asset as well.” However, the 27-year-old Baroda man was in jeopardy and played two important matches, which David Warner and Abdul Samad fired in the last match by 13 runs over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“We always used Hardik on the boundary line because of his speed and he has a good throwing arm and his catching ability,” Jayawardene said. “The last few games, because he has a cousin in his shoulder, we kept him at 30 yards and he proved his worth by picking up a few runs because he is agile.” Rahul Chahar has claimed seven wickets in the last two games and Jayawardene said the young spinner has improved in his bowling.
‘When we started playing with him (Chahar), I believe it was the 2019 season, where he had a breakthrough season, even in the United Arab Emirates last season. He bowled well, but he had his ups and downs. in execution, but every year we see improvement in Rahul, ”he said.
‘Note, he is still a young player and he also learns, he is challenged by different oppositions, some top class players. It’s a constant learning curve for Rahul, but very happy with the way he came out, and he’s one of our leaders in the bowling group, especially in the turning section with Krunal (Pandya). ‘
The middle order of Mumbai Indians ignited incorrectly in their last game, but Jayawardene said it was just a day off and he was generally satisfied with the performance. ‘Overall we’re very happy, but if we know Rohit will push the guys, we’ll increase it every time we do not get those points and he wants us to improve, and that’s the team culture that we have. There are areas where we can improve, ”said the 43-year-old.
Source: Telangana Today