AB de Villiers expressed anticipation for Hardik Pandya’s return to the Mumbai Indians, highlighting the team’s need for his all-round skills and stressing the importance of his bowling contributions.
AB de Villiers underscored the significance of Hardik Pandya’s return to the Mumbai Indians, noting its potential to rectify team balance issues. Pandya’s comeback, facilitated by offloading Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore, strategically fills a crucial all-rounder role, enhancing Mumbai’s squad depth.
De Villiers emphasized Pandya’s role in strengthening the team’s overall performance, particularly his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
“Hardik Pandya – they needed him to come back; otherwise, the balance just didn’t look as strong. I think Hardik is going to play a huge role. Hopefully, he would be able to hold the ball in hand and be the all-rounder that Mumbai Indians need him to be,” De Villiers said.
Pandya, sidelined since the 2023 World Cup due to an ankle injury, has only bowled a few overs in local competitions, but his return to Mumbai Indians is eagerly awaited. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah’s resurgence in the recent Test series against England has heightened expectations.
AB de Villiers also lauded Bumrah’s reliability under pressure, emphasizing his knack for delivering crucial wickets. He further commended Mumbai Indians’ scouting, noting their ability to unearth talented players like Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
“They are incredibly good at scouting new players. And these players, some of them you’ve never heard from before — they just come in and look like they have played for 10 years. That’s always a sign of a healthy franchise,” de Villiers concluded.
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Last Updated on March 13, 2024
Senior Sports Copywriter
