'Just needs to change gears at different times' - Shaun Pollock offers insight to Hardik Pandya following sluggish innings against DC

Reigning champions Gujarat Titans succumbed to an unlikely defeat against bottom-placed Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023 while chasing a modest total in their own backyard. Following Gujarat's disappointing loss, former South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock critiqued GT skipper Hardik Pandya's slugging innings against David Warner's side.

Gujarat Titans lost their previous encounter against Delhi Capitals by a narrow margin despite restricting the visitors to a modest total in the first innings. Even though Hardik Pandya steadied the ship for his side after a flurry of wickets in the powerplay, he was unable to finish the job for his side in a tense final few overs.

Former South African cricketer Shaun Pollock feels that even though Pandya has impressed in his new role at the top of the order, he needs to look for more boundaries during his stay at the crease. Pollock reckoned that Pandya's anchor role would've worked at Mumbai Indians, who boasts of a plethora of hard-hitters down the order.

"I don't think in his [Hardik Pandya's] role of the Gujarat Titans he needs to go down. If he was at Mumbai, he would probably still do it because of the firepower they have. I saw some good performances from him last year. I think he maybe just needs to change gears at different times. I don't have an issue with him coming up higher. He is a class player and has got the ability to strike it really well," Shaun Pollock said while speaking to Cricbuzz.

A lot of times he would just hit the sweeper and just jog through: Pollock

Apart from his power-hitting issues, the Proteas legend also highlighted the Indian all-rounder's lack of urgency between the wickets. Pollock feels that the GT skipper is not putting pressure on the fielders with his languid running between the wickets.

"I know it is with his injuries that he has had. But if you have look back at the innings he played the other night, there's a lot to be said for people who charge between the wickets and put fielders under pressure. There were a lot of times when he would just hit the sweeper and just jog through," Pollock added.