NEW DELHI: Following Mumbai Indians' narrow six-run loss to the Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2024 opening encounter, batting coach Kieron Pollard emphasised that skipper Hardik Pandya's capability to swing the ball was the primary factor behind his role as a new-ball bowler in Sunday's match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In a significant move, Hardik took on the responsibility of opening the bowling against his former team, despite having potent options like Jasprit Bumrah in the squad. However, despite this strategic decision, Hardik conceded 20 runs in his initial two overs, which contributed to Mumbai's early challenges in the game.
