IPL 2021, MI vs PBKS: Hardik Pandya continues his ‘super-flop show’ in IPL, out for just 1, 5 innings total 36 runs- Mumbai Indians depend a lot on Hardik Pandya’s all-round effort. But a persistent shoulder niggle has turned the all-rounder into a batsman, who is not in scoring touch, making him a liability for the defending champions. On Friday, he failed with his willow again, scoring just 1 run off 4 balls against Punjab Kings. That was his fifth consecutive failure, having managed 15 as his highest score in IPL 2021 so far, raising the question should Rohit Sharma drop Hardik for James Neesham, an all-rounder who is yet to get his chance?
In IPL 2021, Hardik Pandya has managed just 36 runs in 5 matches.
MI vs PBKS in IPL 2021: Hardik Pandya super flop, departs cheaply in 5th consecutive innings for Mumbai Indians
Hardik Pandya scores in IPL 2021; check out
vs RCB: 13 runs off 10 balls
vs KKR: 15 runs of 17 balls
vs SRH: 7 runs off 5 balls
vs DC: duck [1-ball]
vs Punjab Kings: 1 run off 4 deliveries [TODAY]
With Hardik Pandya not bowling for Mumbai Indians, he is featuring in the Playing XI purely as a batsman. But with his continuous failure with the bat, it has put Mumbai Indians in a spot of bother. Not only they are not able to utilise his bowling ability, they are not adding many runs in the lower-middle order, thanks to his poor form.
He got out for just 1 run off 4 deliveries in the penultimate over of MI innings while playing against Punjab Kings in Chennai on Friday. It was also his 3rd consecutive dismissal after scoring in single digits. His failure ensured Punjab Kings restrict MI to just 131/6 in the allotted 20 overs. His failure to deliver with the bat in the death overs has already cost a couple of matches (vs Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals) for the defending champions.
As per MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene, the all-rounder picked up a niggle while playing the last ODI against England in March.
IPL 2021: Why Hardik Pandya is not bowling?
“We were looking forward to him bowling this season as he didn’t bowl in last year’s IPL after coming from an injury and he wasn’t ready. In his last ODI match against England, I believe Hardik picked up a niggle so we don’t want to risk an injury,” Jayawardene explained.
“We want to be sure that he is comfortable in bowling so hopefully in the next few weeks with a bit of work and all that you might see him bowling, we would love to see him bowling but as soon as the niggle goes off and he is comfortable in bowling we could utilise that asset as well,” he added.
IPL 2021: James Neesham can replace Hardik Pandya?
In his absence, Mumbai Indians can play James Neesham who can play at No.7 and contribute in the bowling department. This is because MI is playing with only 3 overseas players in the last few matches. they are Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard and Trent Boult.
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