Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday said the team is in no hurry to force Hardik Pandya into bowling in the IPL as the all-rounder might “struggle” if pushed hard, which could jeopardise his outing in the upcoming T20 World Cup. After missing the first two games in the second leg of the tournament, Hardik played for MI purely as a batsman.
This has raised questions over his selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad, with the chairman of selectors saying that Hardik is fully fit to bowl in the marque event, starting October 17 in the UAE and Oman. But Jayawardene felt otherwise and said that the Mumbai franchise is in constant touch with the Indian team think tank regarding Hardik. “He (Hardik) hasn’t bowled for a long period of time, so we are just trying to do the best for Hardik. We are in constant touch with the Indian team management on Hardik’s case,” he told reporters during a virtual press conference ahead of the title holder’s next game against Delhi Capitals here on Saturday.
“Whether he will bowl in the IPL or not we will look on a daily basis. I feel at the moment if we push him too hard, he might struggle.” Ever since his return from a back surgery that he underwent in 2019, Hardik hasn’t been bowling as much as he used to. However, he had bowled regularly during the five-match T20 series against England in March earlier this year before rolling his arm over once in the ensuing three-match ODI series as part of his workload management. But he didn’t bowl in the first leg of the IPL in India and continues to be unused in the UAE as well.
