Hardik Pandya not bowling is a big blow not just for Mumbai Indians but for India as well: Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian skipper and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar feels that Hardik Pandya not bowling is a massive setback not just for his IPL team Mumbai Indians but also India, given that the team’s T20 World Cup 2021 campaign gets underway only nine days after IPL’s conclusion.

Hardi, who has been named in India’s 15-member squad, has not bowled even once in the UAE leg of the IPL, while the last he bowled in international cricket was against Sri Lanka during India’s limited-overs tour in July this year. For the Mumbai Indians, however, he has been playing purely as a batter since the previous edition of the IPL.

“Hardik Pandya, not bowling is a big blow, not just for Mumbai Indians, but for India as well, because he was taken in the team as an all-rounder. And if you are in the team, batting at No. 6 or No. 7 and you’re not able to bowl, then it makes it difficult for the captain,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Times of India.

“He doesn’t get the flexibility and option that is so required for somebody batting at No.6 or 7 like an all-rounder,” said Gavaskar.

Pandya’s coach at the Mumbai Indians, Mahela Jayawardene, recently informed that his situation is currently being monitored and that the MI team is in touch with Indian team management regarding his progress.

We are evaluating his progress on a daily basis: MI coach Mahela Jayawardene

“Because he [Hardik] hasn’t bowled since Sri Lanka for a longer period of time and he had another niggle and managed to get through that process, what we are trying to do is what’s best for Hardik going forward,” Jayawardene said during a virtual press meet.

“And, yes, I understand [there’s] the World Cup as well. We are talking to the Indian management team and make sure that sooner he feels comfortable, we get him to the bowling programme and prepare him.”

“Whether he can bowl in the IPL or not is something that we will have to look at on a daily basis and evaluate and then see how he progresses. I understand all concerns, but we need to do what’s best for Hardik and him going forward and yes, he will be a good asset as a bowler as well. But at the moment if we push too hard, it might be an issue where he might even struggle and not be an asset as a batsman. So that’s something that we will have to take into account and consideration with all concerned parties and take it a day at a time,” he added.

Pandya, before his team’s encounter against Delhi Capitals, admitted that the “efforts are on” to get back to bowling. “Aayega jaldi. Koshish poori hai (I will get to bowl soon. Efforts are on)” he said.