Kieron Pollard feels Hardik Pandya will do great things for Indian cricket
Kieron Pollard has heaped praise on Mumbai Indians teammate Hardik Pandya amidst the terrific IPL season that the all-rounder has stated that he could see Pandya doing great things for India. He also stated that Sunrisers Hyderabad have enough world-class talent to replace David Warner.
One of the biggest factors that has worked Mumbai Indians’ way this season, which wasn’t the case last year, has been Hardik Pandya’s tremendous form with the bat. Playing 12 games for the three-time IPL champions, the batting all-rounder has garnered 355 runs in 12 games, which included 27 sixes and 25 boundaries.
Coming late in the batting order, the controversial youngster's form reflected well in MI’s clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, albeit in a losing cause, where Pandya’s blistering 91 off 34 balls had almost helped Mumbai cross the line. And his proud teammate, Pollard has been of the opinion that Pandya would only improve for Mumbai Indians and consequently for the national team.
"He is a small guy but hits (the ball) a long way. And again once he continues to practice well and continue to evolve as a cricketer, you can see him doing great things not only for Mumbai Indians but by extension Indian cricket," said Pollard ahead of their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, reported PTI.
“He's not really practising differently. It is about believing in his ability. Obviously the situations he has been in, he had no choice but to go and hit and he has shown his power-game as well, so it's good for him. Even when he came onto the scene, if you remember, a couple of games for Mumbai (Indians), he finished off with his big hits.
"It is a matter of him having the confidence because he is one of those guys who is free-spirited and will just go out and try to use his youthful exuberance to have an impact on the game. I am sure even if there is something technical that he has worked on, he wouldn't want to put that out in the media. That is something that if he is working on his game, he does it in private. He wants you guys to see the results of his hard work," he added.
SRH face two must-win games next that would decide their playoffs fate and they have been dealt with the blow of David Warner, who had to return to his country for World Cup preparations. Playing 12 matches this IPL season, Warner ended up scoring 692 runs having eight half-centuries and a century to his name and while SRH fans are convinced that the franchise wouldn’t be able to replace him, Pollard feels otherwise.
"It's an advantage, obviously. David (Warner) is a world-class player. He has shown what he can do and he has shown that he was integral part of Sunrisers Hyderabad (campaign). So, as an opponent, we feel good about it that he is not there, one less guy who was has been in form. But having said that I am sure they have in their armoury a lot of world-class talent to back it up.
"There is (Martin) Guptill and he has done fantastically well on the international scene as well. Yes they have lost Warner, but we are not going to take them lightly. We all know it's a pressure game, the nature of the IPL on a whole is pressure, so as players you don't want to put additional pressure on yourselves going into last couple of games. You want to just be calm and collected," Pollard concluded.
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