IPL 8: ‘Kieron Pollard can smack anyone,’ says Hardik Pandya
Mumbai: Not often would one see West Indies’ swashbuckling batsman Kieron Pollard anchor an innings. But at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, he surprised Mumbai Indians with his matured approach against Kolkata Knight Riders for a winning cause. He played second-in-command to an unknown domestic player from Baroda – Hardik Pandya.
Describing the experience in the middle, the 21-year-old Pandya said: “Pollard told me to enjoy. He told me ‘you can take your time as I do’. He needed to stay till the end because he can smack anyone. So I had to take chances before the death overs.”
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Pandya had a forgetful outing against Royal Challengers Bangalore as AB de Villiers flirted with his economy rate. He conceded 51 runs off three overs and failed with the bat too.
But on Thursday, he erased all embarrassments with a 31-ball 61 as Mumbai beat Kolkata by five runs to stay afloat in the play-offs.
“Pollard was happy to do what he did. You don’t see him staying quiet on the other end often. That was a match-winning partnership according to me,” he added.
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Asking about being AB’s Sunday meal the last day, Pandya said: “Cricket is such a game that one day you can be a hero, next day you can be zero. Whatever happened, has happened.”
The Ricky Ponting-coached team is a happy unit now that they have moved an inch closer to the knockout stages.
Though it was a high pressure clash, Pandya said he didn’t feel any jitters. Aggression comes to him naturally.
“I wasn’t feeling any pressure. What you saw is my natural game. I was focussing on my strengths and how much I can contribute as an individual for the team,” said Pandya, who gave all the credit to Pollard for winning the match for Mumbai.
“More than my batting, Pollard’s contribution with the ball in the last over was more important. Yusuf Pathan was on strike and in good form. He got him out,” he added.
