New Delhi: Hardik Pandya prefers a straightforward approach, evident during the post-match presentation for the recent IPL match. When questioned about the infrequent use of Jasprit Bumrah in the first over, he replied simply, “Bumrah is so special, you want to use him later on.”
On April 20, however, Pandya had to call upon Bumrah for the first over as the Mumbai Indians aimed to set the tone in their defense of 199 runs against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Bumrah delivered, taking a wicket on the very first ball by dismissing Sai Sudharsan, caught at cover, which established an early advantage for Mumbai’s bowlers. After MI’s 99-run victory, a pleased Pandya attributed the rare strategic choice to the importance of Bumrah, stating, “I see a lot of people asking why Jassi isn’t bowled up front but he’s only bowled 7-8 times in the first over. So it’s not a Hardik Pandya problem, it’s an everybody problem.”
This victory marked a critical moment in MI’s campaign, being their first win against the Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium and the largest loss by runs for Gujarat this season.
Pandya commended his team’s performance, particularly highlighting Tilak Varma’s remarkable century and Ashwani Kumar’s four-wicket haul. “It’s always challenging to go away and win, but at the same time, Ahmedabad has been a tough place for Mumbai Indians. We played some good cricket. Feels very special because it was much needed,” he observed.
In a pivotal moment, Pandya motivated Tilak, who was at the crease when the team faltered at 103 for 4. His encouragement proved effective, as Tilak scored 82 runs off the next 23 balls, reaching a century in just 45 deliveries. “The message I think, I realized that the kind of talent Tilak has, he really doesn’t have to worry. So my message to him was just watch the ball and hit the ball. It was about time he came out and delivered,” said Pandya on Tilak’s performance.
Pandya also praised Ashwani Kumar, noting his impressive four-wicket haul. “Really amazing. Ashwani did the same last year. Amazing from the youngsters. Fielding had to click. Special mention to Naman as well,” he added.
When asked if this win could be a turning point in their season, his response was concise: “Yes.”
