IPL 2019 | Krunal Pandya believes Hardik Pandya’s good head space will help him this season

After Mumbai lost the middle-over exchange with the bat, junior Pandya restored parity with an exhibition of clean-hitting to guide the team to 187 - the average first innings score at the venue in the last IPL. Every one of his sixes went out of the stadium leaving commentators gasping for breath and Krunal has stated that Hardik seems to be in a very good head space, which is reflecting on his performance.

“Whatever I have seen of Hardik this year, he’s striking the ball very well. For me, it was excepted what he did. He’s in a good mind space. I’m pretty sure he’ll be delivering for MI consistently. It’s important to get a win in the second game only, sets the momentum for the team,” Krunal was quoted as saying by PTI.

Defending 22 runs in the penultimate over, he gave away just five runs to put the pressure back on the Bangalore side. More than that, he dismissed Virat Kohli in the middle-over, just when the RCB skipper seemed to have been taking the game with him. Krunal was all praise for the Mumbai pace spearhead, and even went as far as calling him a “legend”.

“It was a great game. We were in-out throughout the second innings. The way Bumrah bowled, he is a legend. The way he’s giving consistent performances whether he is playing for India or Mumbai Indians; he is outstanding,” he said.