Mumbai hope for Pandya to be back for next game
CAPTAIN ROHIT BACKS BUMRAH TO COME GOOD AFTER OFF-DAY IN OPENER
Hardik Pandya had twisted his ankle during Mumbai Indians’ opening game against Chennai Super Kings and skipper Rohit Sharma said the Baroda all-rounder looks fine and hoped he would be in good shape when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad tomorrow.
The freak injury had happened off the final delivery of the Mumbai Indians innings bowled by Dwayne Bravo. Pandya wanted to go for a second run but twisted his ankle.
“He’s looking good for now. He twisted his ankle but he came [back on the field] and bowled four overs. We still have three days [for the next match, against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 12]. I think he will be fine,” Sharma told reporters.
The MI captain was speaking at a promotional event in presence of his teammate Kieron Pollard.
MI were defeated by CSK by a wicket and a ball to spare in a thriller courtesy a whirlwind 30ball 68 by West Indian Dwayne Bravo and some late hitting by Kedar Jadhav.
Sharma said his side was in the game until the 17th over, adding it is difficult to contain batsmen when they are set at the Wankhede Stadium.
“Everyone saw what happened. There were certain things that we did not do right in the pressure situation. That’s all. We were in the game till the 17th over. In the last three overs the ■ game drifted away from us. He also backed India and MI pacer Jasprit Bumrah who had an offday against Chennai. “Bumrah is one of the highest rated Indian death bowlers. Anyone can have a bad day. Yes, of course [he will make a strong comeback]. He is a very strong character. Games like this teaches you more as an individual and he has played enough now to understand how he needs to comeback from those situations.
“He also knows that there is a lot of pressure on him. He wants to take it up as a challenge. Games like this will happen but again, he will still be our best bowler,” the 30-year-old righthanded batsman said.
‘A great weapon’
Debutant Mayank Markande had impressed with his figures of 3-23 including the prize scalp of Chennai skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sharma praised the leg-spinner.
“He has got great control of whatever he does, so, I think going forward he will be a great weapon for us. You never know, he has got great skills and potentially he is good. It’s just about going out there and doing what he is doing. For us, me and Mahela [Jayawardene], as captain and coach, we just have to be supporting this guy.
Meanwhile, Fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) with a back injury, Cricket Australia said yesterday. Cummins, who was due to play for Mumbai Indians in the Twenty20 competition, now faces a race to be fit for Australia’s limited-overs tour of England in June.