Follow UsMumbai Indians Head Coach Mahela Jayawardene has backed Hardik Pandya to make a fresh start in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a tough 2024.
He had to face a lot of trolling by MI fans, who felt that five-time IPL-winning skipper Rohit Sharma was wronged by the franchise after being removed from captaincy unceremoniously by the team management.
“I think it's just a game of cricket. Fans are fans, and the emotions are part of it, and I'm sure that everyone has gone beyond that," Jayawardene said before MI's match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
"It's amazing to see how loyalty and everything works even in IPL, which is fascinating, and I've enjoyed that from the outside. Twelve months on, he [Pandya] has achieved a lot more and I'm sure everyone will see beyond what has happened last year. We can enjoy a good game of cricket and everyone can enjoy a good game of cricket.”
Mumbai have lost the three games they have played against GT in Ahmedabad since 2023, but the record doesn’t seem to perturb the MI coach.
"I think we just take the present situation as simple as that," the Sri Lanka veteran said. "I'm trying to recall whether I had been involved. No. So there you go. It's a start."
Jayawardene also informed that he and the team are still waiting for a timeline of Jasprit Bumrah’s return, who is recovering from an injury.
“On a daily basis he's going through his programme," Jayawardene said on Bumrah.
"So far everything seems ok but there were no timelines given by NCA so we'll wait on that."