On the day of the defending champions’ final league stage match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians’ swashbuckling hitter Hardik Pandya got some practice in the nets. In contrast to his prior batting practices, the right-hander thought his objective was to play without fear of getting out.
During a candid conversation with head coach Mahela Jayawardene, Pandya revealed his thought process.
“Today, why I am enjoying, is.. even when I’m missing, my intent is to play. So what conservative I was talking about that, oh, I don’t have to get out (in the nets)… I have to play compact. So, in that, my extensions weren’t happening.” Pandya told Jayawardene
In both international cricket and the current IPL season, Hardik Pandya hasn’t had the best of years with the bat.
Thus, The Baroda player has only 117 runs at an average of 14.62 and a strike rate of 112.5 in ten innings in the IPL 2021. He’ll be hoping to get some runs under his belt before the T20 World Cup, which is just around the corner.
Meanwhile, Hardik’s coach Mahela offered some words of advice for him.
When Pandya junior was batting in the nets, the great Sri Lankan cricketer told him to “stop the commentary” and just talk to himself if he felt he’d made an error.
“And the other thing when you are practicing as well, stop the commentary. Don’t talk to the bowlers.. telling them it’s a good length….[stuff] like that. You don’t do that in a match. You just talk to yourself. Thus, You know if you do something wrong. You do whatever you do to yourself.” Jayawardene said
On Friday (October 8) night, Mumbai will meet the Sunrisers in Abu Dhabi. Following KKR’s 86-run triumph against Rajasthan on October 7, the defending champions are all but out of the competition.
Kolkata Knight Riders
To overtake Kolkata on net run rate, Mumbai must first win the toss and bat first, then try to win the game by 170 runs or more.
Despite the near-impossibility of the assignment, the defending champions will try to cap a miserable season with a consolation victory.
Read more: Deepak Chahar says “I took the experience from last year when we played in the UAE” in IPL 2021