Mumbai Indians faced their second setback of IPL 2024 as they fell short against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a high-scoring showdown on Wednesday evening. Chasing an imposing target of 278, MI’s valiant effort culminated at 246/5, resulting in a drop to the 9th spot on the points table.
In his post-match interview with broadcasters, MI skipper Hardik Pandya maintained a composed demeanour while acknowledging the team’s areas of improvement despite the defeat. Reflecting on the challenging target set by SRH, Pandya praised their batting prowess.
“The wicket was good, but scoring 277 runs, regardless of how well or poorly we bowled, suggests that the opposition batted exceptionally well,” Hardik Pandya remarked.
While most MI bowlers struggled, Pandya, conceding 46 runs in his quota of overs, emphasized the batting-friendly nature of the pitch.
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“Our bowlers put in a commendable effort considering nearly 500 runs were scored. The pitch favored the batters, and we could have experimented with our strategies. Nonetheless, I am pleased with our young bowling attack’s performance today. We’ll learn from this experience,” he explained.
MI faltered in the final overs of their chase, but Pandya commended the top-order batsmen, especially Tilak Varma, who top-scored with a blistering 64 off 34 deliveries.
“Tilak, Rohit, and Ishan all batted splendidly. We just need to fine-tune a few aspects, and we’ll be back on track,” Hardik Pandya affirmed.
Debutant Kwena Maphaka, however, had a tough initiation, conceding 66 runs in four overs, the most expensive spell by a debutant in IPL history. Despite the rough outing, Pandya praised Maphaka’s resilience and urged patience for his development.
“Maphaka displayed courage in his debut game, despite the daunting atmosphere. He has the talent; he just needs more game time to refine his skills,” Hardik Pandya noted.
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Additionally, Pandya addressed the time constraints posed by the frequent boundary-clearing shots, acknowledging the challenge it presented in completing overs within the stipulated timeframe.
“With so many balls sailing into the crowd, it’s indeed challenging to maintain the over rate. We’ll need to find ways to adapt,” Hardik Pandya concluded.
