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Tag: Hardik Pandya

  • There was a little bit of shoulder concern but you will very soon see Hardik Pandya bowl: Zaheer Khan

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan on Monday said the side is confident that Hardik Pandya will bowl in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    The all-rounder did not bowl in the last edition of the IPL. While he has bowled on and off for India, he didn’t bowl in the season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on Friday.

    “Hardik as a whole package is of great value everyone knows that. It was a workload-related thing in the previous game. He bowled in the whole series against England and in the last ODI he bowled about nine overs and that’s why in consultation with the physio we have to take that approach,” Zaheer said in the pre-match virtual press conference ahead of the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders.

    “There was a little bit of shoulder concern but don’t think it is worrisome and you will very soon see him bowl. For the timelines, you have to ask the physio but in terms of Hardik the bowler coming in this tournament, we are very confident that he will be chipping in with the ball in his hand as well,” he added.

    Former India pacer confirmed that Quinton de Kock and Adam Milne will be available for the clash against KKR.

    “Quinton is out of his quarantine, he did his practice session yesterday with the team. Looking forward to the season, he will be available for tomorrow’s game,” he said.

    When asked will Chris Lynn and Marco Jansen be replaced by de Kock and Milne against KKR, he said, “We have to wait till tomorrow that’s closer to the game, we will take that decision on that. But very excited with Marco as well, the squad is looking very good whether I see them in the practices they are very upbeat and looking for that opportunity. When you are part of the champion side you have to wait for your opportunities and that’s what all the group is aware of.

    “Similarly, when you see a youngster like Marco going out there and making that kind of impact. Obviously, he was nervous in the first game but now he is nice and relaxed. He made a good comeback on his IPL debut. Lynn is a pro. He is a good character to have in the dressing room. As professional athletes, you have to be prepared, you have to align yourself with how the team management is thinking and the communication is going to be the key,” he added.

    Zaheer further said Kieron Pollard and Hardik will be their sixth bowling option in the tournament.

    “Pollard is our sixth bowling option. He is an experienced campaigner in our squad. So, he is definitely going to be our sixth bowling option and whenever Hardik starts bowling, he is going to be our bowling option as well. In that department, we not very concerned. You have to just adapt and adjust,” Zaheer said.

  • Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma looks at positives after defeat to RCB

    By Express News Service
    CHENNAI: Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma expressed his disappointment after the defending champions lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural tie of the 2021 Indian Premier League on Friday. 

    After RCB won by two wickets, the Indian team vice-captain said the tournament was a long one and that his team will bounce back.

    Rohit admitted that his side were some runs short and believed that was one of the prime reasons behind the loss.

    “I thought it was a great effort and good fight till the end. I thought we were 20 runs short with the kind of start we got. We made some mistakes in the first game, bound to happen,” he said.

    A major turning point in the match was when Rohit got run out after a mix-up with Chris Lynn.

    “Look, obviously I was a bit nervous, no doubt about it. It was my first game for Mumbai and it was the first time I was batting with Rohit as well. It happens in the game of cricket as well. I thought there was a run and then obviously there wasn’t a run. But yeah, if I had been able to run past him and sacrifice my wicket, I definitely would have done that, but it wasn’t the case,” said Lynn.

    He added: “As I said, it happens, but yeah, I put just a little bit more pressure on myself. It’s not ideal, running out your captain in the first game. But anyhow, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, happens in the game. It would have been nice if the run-out didn’t happen as Rohit was striking the ball nicely, and we were 10 or 15 runs short in the end. Rohit would have definitely made a difference, but there were plenty of factors in this game tonight, not just the run-out.”

    Rohit identified the positives in the defeat. He was happy that his team found a quality bowler in 20-year old Marco Jansen. The South African picked up two wickets including that of Glenn Maxwell.

    “He’s (Jansen) a talent we have identified to bowl in any situation. We wanted to get wickets when AB and Daniel Christian were batting, which is why we went with Bumrah and Boult. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. It’s definitely not an easy pitch to bat on. We need to identify the situations and get variations. AB was brilliant and got them home,” observed Rohit Sharma.

    Meanwhile, Lynn felt that his team perhaps missed a trick by not having a sixth bowling option. 

    After bowling against England for India in March, Hardik Pandya did not even bowl a single over against RCB.

    “It is more precautionary, he (Hardik) has played a fair bit of cricket leading into this tournament. We have 14 games as well so you do not want to throw all your eggs in one basket and risk the injury if it is a shoulder. If Hardik gets back to bowling, it adds another dimension to our team,” said Lynn. 

  • Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya brings in New Year together with family

    India skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya brought in the New Year together on Friday with their families in a safe environment.

    Kohli, who is on paternity leave, posted pictures on social media with his actor wife Anushka Sharma, Hardik, Natasa Stankovic and other friends.

    Kohli captioned the post, “Friends who test negative together spend positive time together! Nothing like a get together with friends in a safe environment. May this year bring a lot of hope, joy, happiness and good health. Stay safe! #HappyNewYear2021.”

    On Monday, India skipper Virat Kohli was named the ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade and the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan was declared the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade.

    Kohli is the only player to score 10,000-plus ODI runs in this decade. He smashed 39 centuries and 48 fifties during this period with an average of 61.83.

    Former Australia skipper Steve Smith bagged the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade award. Smith scored 7,040 Test runs in this decade with an average of 65.79. He smashed 26 hundred and 28 fifties to accumulate those runs. Rashid was the highest wicket-taker in the T20Is as he scalped 89 wickets including three four-wicket hauls and two five-fors.

  • Hardik Pandya Pulls Off Bald Look With Stylish Outfit, Natasa Stankovic Approves

    Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya is renowned for his flamboyancy on and off the field. The lanky-all-rounder, who made his debut for India in 2016, has gone on to become a valuable part of the team. Pandya is currently in the UAE where he is plying his trade in the Dream11 IPL 2020 for the Mumbai-based franchise.

    Pandya is extremely active on social media where he keeps his fans updated about his whereabouts. The Baroda-based cricketer goes about his business without paying heed to outside noise.

    Pandya was at it once again as he took to Instagram and uploaded a photo of himself where he has donned a completely new look. In the photo, the Mumbai all-rounder is seen wearing a black T-shirt along with fashionable sunglasses. He also flaunts his lavish watch in the photo.

    Hardik Pandya’s new look was well-received by fans. Several reactions poured in as netizens gave a thumbs up to Hardik Pandya’s new look. In fact, Hardik Pandya’s wife Natasa Stankovic also reacted to the photo by posting emoticons as she was floored by her husband’s bald look.