India and Mumbai Indians pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya gave an assurance around his bowling duties, stating he is putting in the effort to regain 100% bowling fitness and could be seen going in full tilt ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Speaking to commentator Deep Dasgupta for host broadcaster Star Sports ahead of Saturday’s IPL 2021 encounter against Delhi Capitals (DC), Hardik said:
“I will bowl soon.”
The cricketer also stated he is “putting in best efforts” in recovering completely from the post-effects of his back surgery back in 2019 and believes he isn’t far away from resuming his fast-bowling duties at optimum speeds.
Hardik’s absence on the bowling front through the UAE leg of the ongoing Premier League season has been a cause of huge worry. Even as India’s chief selector Chetan Sharma assured that he will be ready to bowl his quota in every match for the T20 World Cup, three games into the second half of IPL 2021 for MI he hasn’t yet bowled.
Hardik didn’t bowl a single ball during the Indian leg of the tournament as well, having not bowled for the entirety of IPL 2020 last year. Hardik has not gone through the delivery stride for MI since the start of September, a period where the 27-year-old has played 24 of his team’s 28 matches.
For the Indian team as well, Hardik has only occasionally bowled in this phase. He has bowled just 19 overs across six T20I innings and only 27 overs from five ODI outings.
This is a major concern as Hardik’s true value is served when he is nailing his strokes to perfection at the death and backing that up with tight overs as the designated fifth bowler of the team.
Sighting his fitness issues, the Indian team have already gone through a major shift in their balance in both ODIs and T20Is. Recognising that Hardik bowling a full quota is unlikely now, Virat Kohli’s team have had to squeeze in an extra utility cricketer in their side at No.7 at the expense of a specialist batter.
