Kieron Pollard, the batting coach of Mumbai Indians, expressed support for Hardik Pandya's decision to open the bowling instead of Jasprit Bumrah in their IPL opener against Gujarat Titans. He also clarified that the decision for the skipper to bat at number seven was a collective one.
Despite a promising start, Mumbai Indians suffered a six-run defeat in their opener, attributed partly to an unexpected batting strategy. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Mumbai surprised many by having Hardik Pandya open the bowling against his former team.
Pollard defended this decision, citing Pandya's previous success with the new ball for Gujarat. He emphasized the team's strategic planning and utilization of players' strengths, stating that using Pandya's ability to swing the new ball was a calculated move.
Regarding Hardik's placement at number seven in the batting order, Pollard emphasized that decisions are not made unilaterally. He explained that the team discusses batting entry points and relies on various players' abilities to finish games, mentioning Tim David and Hardik's track record in such situations.
Pollard dismissed the notion of attributing decisions solely to individuals, emphasizing the team's collective decision-making process. He backed embattled opener Ishan Kishan, describing him as an experienced player within the setup and expressing confidence in his ability to bounce back.
Despite Kishan's dismissal for a duck by Azmatullah Omarzai, Pollard remained optimistic about his performance in upcoming matches. He acknowledged the debut of four players, including Naman Dhir, praising Dhir's performance and expressing excitement about his potential contribution to the team.
Pollard credited the scouting team for identifying talents like Dhir and highlighted his calmness and intent during his innings. He urged patience and support for the young players, emphasizing that their contributions should be celebrated and nurtured as they continue to develop within the team.
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