Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said that Hardik Pandya looked good in the nets but the team management would have to be mindful in managing his workload because he was coming back after an injury.
Hardik Pandya sustained a back injury ahead of the Test series against South Africa last year in August. Subsequently, he went under back surgery which led his ouster from the game for around four months.
During which, he also served the rehabilitation period in National Cricket Academy (NCA). Further, the outbreak of coronavirus delayed his plan of a comeback. But finally, he will feature in the IPL 2020.
In MI’s virtual media conference, Mahela Jayawardene opined that the two Pandya brothers – Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya- have been fantastic over three-four years for the franchise. He said that they bring energy to the group to the group.
“Hardik is coming back from an injury. So we will have to be mindful of that but he is looking very good in the nets. Both the players (Pandya brothers) have been fantastic for MI over the last three or four years.
“It brings a lot of energy to the group,” Jayawardene said during MI’s virtual media conference on Thursday.
The former Sri Lankan cricketer said that they used Hardik in different roles last season. For the upcoming season, MI is planning to develop more players like Hardik who are versatile and can also be the back up of Indian allrounder.
“We have used him (Hardik) in different roles in the past and we will look into that. We will have quite a number of other players who can fix into that role as well, so whenever the opportunity is there we ask anyone to finish the game off,” said the former Sri Lanka captain.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians will play the first match against Chennai Super Kings on 19 September, the inauguration day of the league.