‘Delhi game was gone for Mumbai, but Hardik never gives up’ – Ajay Jadeja | Ipl News
Stating that Hardik Pandya has tided over his opening season captaincy blues, JioStar expert Ajay Jadeja said Pandya’s indefatigable spirit is seeing Mumbai revive their challenge, with the turnaround most likely having come in the thriller against Delhi Capitals.
Speaking exclusively on Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Ajay Jadeja said, “Hardik Pandya is a character, and he is leading from the front – whether it’s batting, bowling, fielding, or even off the field. He’s always smiling. The one thing about him – he never gives up,” Jadeja said.
Pandya had a torrid time when he returned to MI as captain with silly fans even booing him, but he’s stuck to his guns. “Last year wasn’t the best for him, but this year, even without great results early on, he’s stayed true to his style. The turnaround, in my opinion, came in the last game against Delhi Capitals. That game was gone; most teams would’ve given up. But Mumbai Indians clawed back – and that’s Hardik Pandya for you. That was the game that may well have turned their season around. Tonight was a bonus,” Jadeja said after MI’s 4-wicket win over SRH.
“It was a comfortable win, but the Delhi game showed what MI and Hardik are made of. When Hardik Pandya walks in, even when the team needs 10, 12, 15 runs an over, you still feel they’ve got a better chance with him at the crease,” Jadeja said, as Pandya smacked a typical 9 ball-21, with 3 boundaries and a six.
Mark Boucher, another JioStar expert, said Pandya’s middle overs bowling efficacy is helping his confidence in batting. “Hardik Pandya is one of the best all-rounders in the world. When he’s firing, the team usually wins. I love his new role with the ball – he’s not just bowling in the power play, but in the tough middle overs, the ‘ugly overs’. And he’s picking up wickets there too. That’s giving him confidence, and it’s translating into his batting, where he’s going in and finishing games,” Boucher said. Against SRH he went for runs, but cut short Abhishek Sharma crucially in the 8th over, who is perennially threatening to explode.
Boucher went against the grain talking of Rohit Sharma’s batting. Mumbai had 6 batters all strike over 120, with 3 over 160, but crossing just 20 runs. Rohit scored 26 off 16 with three sixes and Boucher sniffed a biggie was coming.
Boucher said, “Rohit Sharma took it upon himself to go after the bowlers. We saw some good old-fashioned Rohit Sharma sixes – big ones too. I liked his attitude. He put the bowlers under pressure, created scoring opportunities. He was just past the 30-mark (26 actually)– a big score is coming very soon. He’s looking in that zone again.”
