“Is It Best Not To Bowl To You?”: When Jasprit Bumrah Was Mighty Impressed With Hardik Pandya’s Hitting Ability During IPL 2019

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was at his destructive best during Indian Premier League 2019. Mumbai Indians won the title that season and Pandya played a crucial part with both bat and the ball. The way he smashed the bowlers throughout the tournament was appreciated by many around the world.

During a media interaction, pacer Jasprit Bumrah lauded Pandya’s batting skills after a thriller against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bumrah was so impressed with Pandya that he even asked Pandya that should bowlers stop bowling to him in this kind of form.

Mumbai defeated Hyderabad in a super-over to seal their place in the playoffs. It was quite a match for Pandya. He was given the task to defend 16 runs in the last over, but Hyderabad’s batter Manish Pandey smashed a six on the last ball to take the match to the Super Over.

When Jasprit Bumrah Was Mighty Impressed With Hardik Pandya’s Hitting Ability During IPL 2019

Bumrah and Pandya were stars for Mumbai in their win against Hyderabad. Bumrah bowled the super over and conceded just eight runs. Pandya then smashed a big six on spinner Rashid Khan’s first delivery to earn a win for Mumbai.

Both Pandya and Bumrah then gave an interview with Star Sports where Bumrah appreciated Pandya’s efforts with the bat. Bumrah asked whether Pandya feels any kind of pressure in crunch situations. In a joyful mood, Pandya gave credit to the team environment for his success in the tournament.

“You’ve been hitting the ball really well, so where does the bowler bowl to you? Is it best not to bowl to you?,” Bumrah asked Pandya.

“Maybe! Maybe… I’d like to think that way (laughs). Everything is coming off nicely. Our environment is really nice so you keep getting the confidence, I really want to thank the MI team management, especially my teammates for always being there,” Pandya replied.

Bumrah was given the Player of the Match award for taking wickets of openers Wridddhiman Saha and Martin Guptill. Pandya failed with the ball but scored 18 (10) with the help of one boundary and a six.

Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya performance in IPL 2019

Mumbai Indians won their fourth IPL title in 2019 by defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final in Hyderabad. In their title-winning campaign, Pandya and Bumrah played a key role.

Bumrah scalped 19 wickets in the tournament at an economy of 6.63 and had a strike-rate of 19.40. Pandya, on the other hand, took the league by storm. He scored 402 runs at a brilliant strike-rate of 191.42, whereas he scalped 14 wickets with the ball as well.