Kieron Pollard in post-match press convention© BCCI/Sportzpics
Mumbai Indians coach Kieron Pollard was as soon as once more made to defend the franchise’s skipper Hardik Pandya within the post-match press convention. MI suffered one more defeat this season as Chennai Tremendous Kings rode on MS Dhoni‘s late blitz and Matheesha Pathirana‘s medical bowling to safe a 20-run win on Sunday. Hardik, who returned to bowling within the match, conceded 43 runs in 3 overs whereas scoring simply 2 runs of 6 balls with the bat. His captaincy within the recreation additionally left a lot to be desired, drawing followers and pundits’ ire. However, Pollard continues to defence ‘arduous working and assured’ man, Hardik. (IPL 2024 Factors Desk)
Within the press convention, Pollard went on an epic rant, highlighting how cricket stays a group recreation and it is not proper to single out particular person gamers, particularly somebody like Hardik who’s working actually arduous behind the scenes to enhance his recreation.
“I do not know if it’s going to have an effect on his confidence. He’s a assured man; he has been nice across the group. In cricket, you may have good days and unhealthy days and I’m seeing a person who’s working bloody arduous to enhance his abilities and plying his commerce,” Pollard instructed media after the match.
Pollard did not mince his phrases as he admitted to be sick and uninterested in seeing individuals single out Hardik, a participant who will characterize the Indian nationwide group within the T20 World Cup 2024 in 6 weeks’ time.
“I’m sick and drained, fed up of [us] trying to pinpoint people; cricket is a group recreation on the finish of the day. That is a person that’s going to characterize the nation in lower than six weeks’ time, and all are going to cheer him and need him to do nicely. So excessive time we attempt to encourage and cease nitpicking and see if we are able to get the most effective out of one of many nice all-rounders India has produced. He can bat, bowl and subject, and has an X-factor about him,” the coach additional stated.
“I hope very nicely deep down inside my coronary heart that when he comes out on prime, I am going to sit again and watch everybody sing his praises,” he added.
With their 4th loss in 6 matches, Mumbai Indians are positioned eighth within the 10-team factors desk.
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