Pandya brothers living a dream with Mumbai Indians
MUMBAI : The much-loved Pandya brothers are living their dream with the Mumbai Indians in the 2017 Indian Premier League season.
Mumbai Indians won the Qualifier 2 match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday for a spot in the final against Rising Pune Supergiant on Sunday.
Besides the team’s success, Hardik and Krunal have enjoyed good spells as well.
Hardik has managed 240 runs from 15 matches this season while elder brother Krunal has 151 runs from 11 matches.
Hardik also boasts of the best individual score in a single over in the ongoing IPL season, having smashed Rising Pune Supergiant’s Ashok Dinda for 28 runs in six balls — including one 4 and four 6s — in Mumbai Indians’ season opener on April 6.
GOOD COMPANY
The brothers are often spoken of by Mumbai Indians teammates as being jovial and good company, with Hardik often seen as a prankster.
“He was very naughty (growing up). He still is, but a bit less. He’s got his fair share of thrashing from mom. I can’t leave him alone, you know how he is,” Krunal is heard saying in a video posted by Mumbai Indians to their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
“Irrespective of how well or poor he performs, he always runs away from me because I pull his leg a lot.
“So whether he scores a 50 or he takes a wicket, I will still point out that he edged a four or that he bowled a wide ball. So I make sure that I keep torturing him,” Krunal added.
Hardik joined the side ahead of the 2015 season while Krunal was added to the squad last year.
Both brothers play for Baroda in the domestic cricket circuit. However, Krunal rules out training with his younger brother as it always ends in a brotherly argument.
“We never practice together because we quarrel a lot. Whenever he gets out, he never accepts it.
“He’d even deny the third umpire saying, ‘No, you don’t know anything’. He himself will become the third or fourth umpire,” Krunal joked.
Hardik expressed how playing alongside a sibling was beneficial to his game.
“He makes sure that I improve as a cricketer and as a human being. And it is the same thing with me. I make sure that he improves and grows,” Hardik said. The brothers had purchased a house in Mumbai during the ongoing IPL season so they and their family — natives of Gujarat — could live in the city when needed.