“Kieron Pollard, Mumbai Indians’ batting coach, expects fans to appreciate Hardik soon despite another disappointing loss”
Hardik Pandya appeared dejected. He had come out to bat with Mumbai Indians’ required run rate just below 13, but by the time he was dismissed – scoring only 2 runs off 6 balls – it had risen to almost 17. He paused on his way back and joined the MI group, which included the head coach Mark Boucher and batting coach Kieron Pollard, during the timeout.
A few hours earlier, Hardik had taken the responsibility of bowling the final over for Mumbai, but he gave away 26 runs as MS Dhoni hit three consecutive sixes, helping Chennai Super Kings to an unlikely total of 206. Despite an unbeaten 105 from Rohit Sharma, that proved to be enough for the Super Kings to secure a 20-run victory.
Pollard expressed his support for under-fire captain Hardik of Mumbai Indians and predicted that everyone will start admiring him again soon. Pollard believed that Hardik is a confident player and an important member of the team who is working hard to improve his performance. He also urged everyone to stop criticizing individuals and focus on the team’s performance. Pollard reminded everyone that Hardik is a great all-rounder who can bat, bowl, and field, and has an X-factor about him. Despite being jeered by fans in some games, Pollard hopes that Hardik will regain his form and win back everyone’s admiration.
After returning from an ankle injury he sustained during the ODI World Cup last year, Hardik Pandya has scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 145.55 and picked up three wickets. However, his economy rate has been quite high at 12. During his first stint with Mumbai from 2015 to 2021, he had an average of 27.33 with a strike rate of 153.91. But, in his two years with Titans, where he captained the team, his average shot up to 37.86. He played in the middle order and anchored the innings while the strike rate came down to 133.49.
“Although Hardik Pandya is a talented player, he needs to earn the respect of his teammates and fans,” commented Moody. He added that Pandya is finding it tough to gain recognition, especially since no one is giving him a chance at the moment. Winning their first three games would have made things easier for him. The team is now facing difficulties, and the topic of his acceptance has become more prominent.
Tom Moody acknowledged that the situation is a challenge for Pandya. However, he also noted that there are many experienced people around him that he can draw on for support. These include players and coaches with both international and IPL experience. According to Moody, it is essential for Pandya to take on board this support and use it to help turn things around for the team.
