IPL 2021: Mahela Jayawardene updates on Hardik Pandya's niggle, says 'nothing to worry'

The first match between CSK and Mumbai Indians saw many of Mumbai’s stars not taking the field for them. The match where CSK looked down at 24/4 was ultimately won by MSD and his men in the end by 20 runs. Skipper Rohit Sharma and one of Mumbai’s main men Hardik Pandya didn’t take the field for MI in the opening clash. It was reported that Pandya is carrying a niggle and even Rohit was a bit unfit.

In the same light, fans started wondering if the ace all-rounder is good to go for T20 World Cup or not. However, head coach Mahela Jayawardene showed up in the post-match press conference and cleared the air on Pandya’s injury. He stated that there is nothing serious and they wanted to give a few days to his niggle.

“Hardik was training, had a little niggle, so again precaution, we thought, let’s just give him extra days to see how things are, but nothing serious,” said MI Head coach Mahela Jayawardene in a post-match virtual press conference.

Mahela Jayawardene opens up MI’s loss in the first game

The MI head coach further went on to talk about Rohit’s form and added that the team felt that he needed a few days after coming back from the UK and that’s why he was rested. Even he will be good to go in the next game. He also threw light on what went wrong for them in the opening clash. None of their batters took responsibility for the team like the way young Ruturaj Gaikwad (88* off 58) did for the CSK, reckoned Jayawardene.

“Rohit was batting and doing his running as well, but after coming back from the UK, we felt that he probably needed an extra few days, so should be fine to play the next game. We probably gave a couple of soft dismissals. It just needed someone to take a bit more responsibility and bat through the innings, which we did not do and that was a difference with Ruturaj (Gaikwad) doing that for CSK,” added Jayawardene.