The Mumbai Indians started the season with a good win against the Kolkata Knight Riders at home. The Hardik Panyda-led side seems well-balanced across departments, but their batting unit stands out because of the firepower there is in the unit. Their bowling wasn’t exactly on track as they were hit for plenty of runs around the park.
Hardik Pandya has promoted himself as a new ball bowler in the side, but he didn’t seem to be at his best, which was also acknowledged by the Mumbai Indians Head Coach, Mahela Jayawardene.
Hardik Pandya Remains Central to MI’s Game Plan
"Hardik hasn’t looked in great rhythm with the ball lately, but I’m confident he’ll find his form soon. If things don’t go as planned, we have enough depth in the squad to adapt and figure out the best way forward during the match,” said Mahela Jayawardene. Hardik Pandya had conceded 39 runs from his 3 overs in his bowling spell against KKR. He missed out on the game against the Delhi Capitals, and he will be hoping that he can regain his form in the season.
Though, Pandya did pick the important wicket of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, but other than that, he was far from his best. In his IPL career, he has picked up 79 wickets from 108 innings at an economy of 9. Hardik Pandya is a key bowler for both the Mumbai Indians and the Indian team, so his bowling form would be crucial considering the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup and the quest for the Mumbai Indians’ long-awaited title.
Mahela Jayawardene seems optimistic about the form of Hardik Pandya, as he is a world-class player, and he can pick himself up from any situation. If he continues to struggle with the ball, then an additional bowling option could be given a chance in the starting squad, but as it stands, Hardik Pandya will remain as their strong additional bowling option going forward this season.
