Consistency is a tough beast to tame: Harsha Bhogle after Manish Pandey’s 71* against MI

Ever since he has joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Manish Pandey didn’t have the best of times. The Karnataka batsman showed inconsistency and found himself in and out of the team on a frequent basis. Even this season, the 29-year-old didn’t make the greatest of starts with a string of low scores and was subsequently dropped from the playing eleven.

However, with SRH in dire straits, he was included back in the team and he has seen a drastic change in fortunes. In the last four matches, Pandey had scores of 83*, 61, 36 and 71*.  Most importantly, he hasn’t curbed his natural instincts and has taken on the best of bowlers. The 71 not out came against the Mumbai Indians (MI) yesterday at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.

Manish Pandey lights up the Wankhede  

He came to bat after Wriddhiman Saha and Martin Guptill scored 40 for the first wicket in four overs while chasing 163. Pandey started fluently and notched his half-century in 37 balls. Wickets went down at the other end, but Manish didn’t let the situation unnerve him. He took the game to the last over where the visitors needed 17 runs with Hardik Pandya with the ball in hand.

With seven runs needed off the final delivery, Pandey deposited Hardik into the stands for a six to take the match to a Super Over. His knock of 71 off 47 with eight fours and two sixes went in vain as Mumbai prevailed in the one-over eliminator courtesy of a stupendous over from Jasprit Bumrah. Nevertheless, Pandey was showered with praises after his knock under severe pressure.

In the meantime, Harsha Bhogle, the renowned cricket commentator and analyst, was jubilated following Pandey’s clam-headed knock. He took to Twitter and wrote, “Delighted with the form of Manish Pandey. Always rated him and he has shown himself and everyone else that when in form he is a match-winner. But consistency is a tough beast to tame.”

Here is Bhogle’s tweet

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