It seems like the tides are finally turning for Hardik Pandya! The Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper, who received a huge flak from crowd for the majority of IPL 2024 so far, was cheered by the Wankhede crowd as he delivered a phenomenal bowling display against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In Match 55, Pandya bowled a great spell of 3/31, stifling SRH’s innings, that ended on 173/8 after 20 overs.
Pandya, the bowler – A great news for India
Hardik Pandya utilized the two-paced Wankhede track to a great effect as he varied his speed superbly. He clocked 142 kmph once and even took his pace down to as low as 114 in a single over. He first sent back Nitish Reddy before dismissing Shahbaz Ahmad. On the penultimate ball of his fourth over, Pandya bamboozled Marco Jansen as the MI skipper continued to hit hard lengths.
This come as a great news for Team India. After all, India will be greatly dependent on Pandya for acting as a fifth bowler throughout the T20 World Cup. Pandya’s regaining his bowling form would certainly be the biggest positive coming out of the later stages of IPL 2024. In his last three matches, Pandya has managed to take a total of 7 wickets. To put things into context, the premier Indian all-rounder scalped only three wickets in his first seven innings for MI this season.
Following his remarkable bowling display, fans were quick to praise Pandya. These acclaims were hardly seen for Pandya throughout this season thus far.
The post Jeers turns to cheers for Hardik Pandya, MI skipper win back haters with 3/31 spell ahead of T20 World Cup appeared first on Inside Sport India.