Mumbai, April 28: Hardik Pandya, captain of the Mumbai Indians, expressed disappointment over a missed opportunity during their recent match against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 27. Pandya singled out left-handed batsman Tilak Varma’s approach against left-handed bowler Axar Patel as a crucial moment in the game.
In the post-match presentation, Pandya remarked, “Axar bowling to a left-hander (Tilak), the better option could have been to go after him. I think it was just a little game awareness that we missed out. At the end of the day, that cost us the game.” Axar Patel conceded 24 runs in the two overs he bowled.
Despite the setback, Tilak Varma emerged as the top scorer for Mumbai Indians in the match, showcasing his prowess with a stellar performance. Varma scored 63 runs off 32 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes.
Reflecting on the increasingly close nature of T20 cricket, Pandya emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities, especially in the middle overs. He noted, “This game is becoming more and more closer. It (the difference) used to be a couple of overs, now it’s becoming a couple of balls. Because of the kind of games and how the bowlers are under pressure, we backed ourselves to do it. If I had to pick something out, we could have taken a couple of more chances in the middle overs.”In addition, Pandya commended DC’s Fraser-McGurk for his impressive performance, acknowledging his calculated risks and adept field play. (Agencies)
