Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya batted slowly against Delhi Capitals. Yet Aakash Chopra thinks Pandya’s watchful innings was wise. For MI’s match situation demanded caution from the skipper.
Hardik blasted 39 runs off 33 balls as MI set DC a massive 235-run total in Mumbai on Sunday, April 7. The home team then held Rishabh Pant and company to 205/8, securing a 29-run victory and opening their account in the competition.
In a video posted to his YouTube page, Aakash Chopra thanked Hardik and Tim David (45* off 21) for saving the Mumbai Indians from a little setback.
“The wheels got stuck in the middle. Suddenly it seemed like it wouldn’t work out because Tilak Varma also got out. Ishan Kishan had also gotten out after Rohit Sharma. They were 121/4 at one stage. The team was stuck and they needed a good partnership there.”
“Hardik Pandya was there with Tim David. Hardik Pandya did play slow for sure but it was required at that stage because if one more wicket had fallen, the game was done and dusted. Then Mohammad Nabi would have had to come up the order. However, they played there and took the game deeper.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra praised Romario Shepherd for sending Anrich Nortje to the cleaners in the final over.
“Tim David then started hitting sixes. Anrich Nortje was thrashed – 32 runs in the last over. Romario Shepherd – we used to play a game in our childhood – Super Mario. He kept hitting like Super Mario. Shepherd did an incredible job.”
Aakash Chopra
Shepherd scored an undefeated 39 from just ten deliveries. He smashed Nortje for four sixes and two fours in the final over to help MI set a lofty goal for DC.
“When Rohit Sharma bats like this, he does it differently” – Aakash Chopra lauds Mumbai Indians opener
Aakash Chopra lauded Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan. They powered Mumbai Indians’ blistering start.
“The way Mumbai started with the bat, they were flying rockets. How well was Rohit Sharma batting. When Rohit Sharma bats like this, he does it differently. He didn’t score a half-century – no problem whatsoever, because you become breathless when you start reading their batting lineup, even Gerald Coetzee bats.”
“So everyone should keep hitting. That’s what he started doing and Ishan Kishan was there with him. Both reached close to their fifties but got out. Axar Patel started picking up wickets.”
Aakash Chopra
Rohit and Kishan scored quickly, making 80 runs. They batted together for the first wicket. Seven overs passed quickly. However, Mumbai Indians lost many wickets fast. Their score became 121/4. But Hardik Pandya and Tim David rebuilt the innings steadily. Romario Shepherd hit sixes and fours aggressively too. In the end, Mumbai Indians reached a good total.