NEWS
Follow UsAhead of the crucial game against Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Hardik Pandya says the the efforts are on to bowl. MI need to win their remaining three matches to assure them of a place in the playoffs. Even a single loss will leave them needing a few results in the other matches to go their way.
Hardik says that the team is just focusing on things that they can control. "Runs are important and especially when your team wins. It was important for my personal confidence but to score for the team was important. We have to assess the wicket and adapt on the given time. The plans have to be simple and win over obstacles ball-by-ball," the all-rounder told Star Sports.
There's no option, but one thing is that these situations bring out the best in you. We realise it is a do-or-die game, but we are just focusing on the controllabes," he added.
When asked when he would start bowling in matches, he said, "Aayega jaldi. Koshish poori hai (I will bowl soon. Efforts are on)."
However, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene had earlier said that if Hardik was to bowl, if would affect his batting. "Because he hasn't bowled since Sri Lanka, I think what we are trying to do is what's best for Hardik going forward. We are talking to Indian management, and make sure sooner he feels comfortable, we get him into his bowling programme and prepare him," said Jayawardene in a pre-match press conference on Friday (October 1).
"(If Hardik can bowl in IPL) We have to look on a daily basis and evaluate and see how he progresses," he added.
MI are currently in sixth place with 10 points from 11 games. A win over DC would take them into fourth positing in the IPL 2021 table.