IPL 2021: ‘Hardik Pandya will be seen bowling very soon,’ reveals Zaheer Khan

MI’s Hardik Pandya bowls against CSK at Wankhede in 2019. Pic/AFP

Ever since Hardik Pandya made a comeback after a lower back injury in 2019, his workload management has become the central focus of many a discussion.

The Indian team have used him sparingly in the last two series, against Australia and England. And now, Mumbai Indians too are treading with caution.

Pandya has been under-utilised by India captain Virat Kohli, who expects him to play a crucial role in the World Test Championship final in June. He bowled just four overs in the second ODI against Australia at Sydney last November and nine overs in the third ODI against England at Pune.

While he did not bowl in the T20Is in Australia, Pandya rolled his arm over in the five T20Is against England at Ahmedabad and completed his full quota of four overs in only three matches. The all-rounder last bowled for Mumbai Indians in the 2019 edition, claiming 14 wickets.

In MI's opening loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on Friday, one expected Pandya to be used for a couple of overs after Rahul Chahar went for 43 runs in his four overs.

However, Mumbai Indians' Director of Cricket Operations, Zaheer Khan confirmed that Pandya had a "shoulder concern" in the opening game that saw him often throwing the ball under-arm while fielding. However, Zaheer insisted that Pandya will be seen bowling very soon.

Zaheer Khan. Pic/Yogen Shah

"Hardik, as a whole package, is of great value. It was a workload-related thing in the previous game [that he didn't bowl]. He bowled in the India-England series, in the last ODI he bowled about nine overs, and that's why, in consultation with the physios, we had to take that approach," Zaheer said on the eve of the clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Chennai.

"There was a little bit of a shoulder concern. I don't think it's worrisome, you will very soon see him bowl. For the exact timelines, you'll have to ask the physio but in terms of Hardik, the bowler coming in this tournament, we are very confident that he will be chipping in."

Zaheer said that MI have enough options for a sixth bowler nevertheless. "Pollard is our sixth bowling option. He's an experienced campaigner, so he's definitely going to be our sixth bowling option. And whenever Hardik is available, he's going to be a bowling option as well. We're not too concerned in that department," said the former India pace great.

Mumbai Indians may have once again lost their first match of their IPL campaign, for the ninth time in succession, but they have managed to win their second match on four of the last five occasions. And three of those wins have come against KKR. MI also maintain a strong dominance over KKR, with a 21-6 win-loss record. In the last four IPL editions, KKR have managed just one win over MI [in 2019 at Eden Gardens].

However, under captain Eoin Morgan, KKR seem to have a renewed vigor and aggressive approach too, going by their dominant win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.