Putting too much pressure on Hardik to bowl can affect his batting : Jayawardene

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene feels that putting too much pressure on all-rounder Hardik Pandya to bowl in the ongoing IPL could have a negative impact on his batting. Jayawardene had said that the franchise is in touch with the Indian team management regarding Hardik’s fitness and bowling preparation. He added that Hardik’s fitness was being assessed on a daily basis, but Mumbai would not ask him to bowl until the all-rounder was fully prepared.

Jayawardene said, because Hardik hasn’t bowled for a long time since the Sri Lanka tour. We are trying to get through the process that he is going through before he gets into another trouble. This is best for hearty. He was addressing a press conference ahead of Mumbai’s match with Delhi Capitals on Saturday. He said and yes, I think there is a World Cup too. We are in talks with the Indian management team and make sure we get him into the bowling schedule and get him ready as soon as he feels comfortable.

Hardik has bowled just 46 overs in 41 matches since his return from back surgery in October 2019. In this period, he has played only white-ball cricket, although he was in the squad for the home Test series against England earlier this year. Hardik last bowled during the T20I series in Sri Lanka on 25 July, when he bowled two overs.
Hardik has not bowled for Mumbai since the 2020 IPL and has played as a pure batsman. While this has affected Mumbai’s bowling strategy, Jayawardene said Hardik is part of the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup, which begins soon after the IPL. In such a situation, the franchisee will continue to be patient.

Not only Mumbai, but the Indian team management, as well as the national selector, will be monitoring Hardik’s bowling fitness as India have picked only three specialist fast bowlers in their initial squad of 15. While announcing the squad, chief selector Chetan Sharma had said that Hardik was fit and would bowl his full quota of overs during the World Cup.

However, out of the four matches that Mumbai has played in the second edition of the IPL, Hardik was ruled out of the first two matches as a pure batsman even in the last two matches, but Jayawardene said that Hardik is still a batsman. But are special.

Jayawardene said, “Whether he can bowl in the IPL or not, it is something that we have to watch and evaluate on a daily basis and then see how he progresses.” I understand everyone’s concerns, but we need to do what is heartfelt and best for him. And yes, he will be a special one as a bowler too. At this point in time if we push too much, it could be an issue where he might struggle and that would affect him as a batsman. So this is something that we will have to take into account and consider all concerned.