Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has been dealing with a lot these days.
To make matters worse, he faced Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s wrath in the most sought-after IPL clash between Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. In a last over that cost MI 26 runs, Hardik’s three successive mediocre deliveries were duly dispatched into the stands by Dhoni.
It kind of shook the allrounder, whose misery compounded with the bat as he scored two off six balls.
Kieron Pollard, the Mumbai Indians bowling coach, hoped that the MI supporters stop nitpicking on Hardik. “I don’t know if it will affect his confidence. He is a confident guy, he has been great around the group. In cricket you have good days and bad days and I am seeing an individual who is working bloody hard to improve his skills and plying his trade,” Pollard said after MI’s fourth loss in six games.
“I am fed up of we looking to pinpoint individuals; cricket is a team game at the end of the day. This is an individual that is going to represent the country in less than six weeks’ time, and all are going to cheer for him and want him to do well. So high time we try to encourage and stop nitpicking and see if we can get the best out of one or the great allrounders India has produced.
“He can bat, bowl and field, and has a X-factor about him. I hope very well deep down within my heart that when he comes out on top, I’ll sit back and watch everyone sing his praises.”
For now, though, as Mumbai Indians embark on a prolonged spell away from home, captain Hardik will be hoping to find winning ways for a struggling team.
