IPL 2019 | People don’t expect lot from my bowling, says Hardik Pandya

IPL 2019 | People don’t expect lot from my bowling, says Hardik Pandya

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BCCI

Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians all-rounder, has stated that people don’t expect a lot from his bowling. In Sunday’s encounter between MI and Kolkata Knight Riders, Pandya was awarded the Man of the Match for his exploits with the ball as he returned with figures of 20 for two in three overs.

Mumbai Indians had put Kolkata Knight Riders to bat first and they had scored 49 runs for no loss in the first powerplay. The MI skipper Rohit Sharma then handed the ball to Hardik and he struck in his very first ball by dismissing Shubman Gill for nine runs. He followed it up with the wicket of Chris Lynn, who scored 41 in 29 deliveries, in his next over. The all-rounder ended up giving 20 runs in his three overs and was visibly delighted with his exploits.

“For sure, getting a Man of the Match for my bowling is really pleasing. To be honest as a batsman, there is nothing better than hitting a ball. People don't expect a lot from my bowling, neither do I, but it feels nice,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.

Despite being a batting all-rounder, Pandya possesses a decent bowling record in international cricket as well as the Indian Premier League. Along with 380 runs a strike rate of nearly 200 in this season, he has also scalped 14 wickets and reckoned that he is ready to bowl every time the team needs him. 

“I definitely look at myself as a four-over bowler, I am ready to do whatever my team wants me to do; bowl four, ten or even fifteen overs in a Test match. We have one more bowling option and it helps when somebody has an off day,” explained the 25-year-old.

The younger Pandya sibling tends to go deep in the crease and generates power to hit massive sixes from his hip and core. However, Hardik honestly accepted that he does not know where the power really comes from. 

“Krunal (Pandya) was telling me that I generate the power from my hip and core, but I really don't know where I get my power from,” he asserted.

With a win in their final league game, MI have placed themselves as the table toppers and will feature in the first qualifier on Tuesday against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Hardik is positive about his team’s chances despite tough competition from CSK at their home ground.

“Definitely, Chennai is a different challenge, it will be a cracker of a game. We just hope to get the best out of that one and go through to the finals,” signed off the World Cup-bound player.

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