Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to start a new innings in the upcoming 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pandya, who was recently released by Mumbai Indians (MI), will be leading the newly formed Ahmedabad franchise in the fifteenth edition of the cash-rich league.
However, the crucial thing for the Ahmedabad team, as well as many fans, will be to see whether Pandya will contribute to the bowling. Notably, the Baroda cricketer hasn’t bowled for the last few months because of his back injury. He has only played as a pure batter, be it for MI or the Indian team.
On Tuesday, Pandya shared his thoughts on whether he will bowl in the upcoming season. The all-rounder said it’s a surprise for everyone before adding that his team knows about his current status.
“It’s (bowling) a surprise for everyone. My team knows where I stand,” said Pandya as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Considering his injuries and workload, Pandya played in the second half of IPL 2021 and the T20 World Cup for the Indian side just as a specialised batter. However, the 28-year-old cleared the air regarding his fitness, stating he still wants to contribute with the ball and not just looking to become a batter.
“It’s been challenging. I’ve always been someone who contributes with the bat, ball and on the field. When I decided I will just bat, I wanted to spend some time on the ground. We all love challenges, and I love to fight it out. Criticism is good, and it doesn’t really bother me. For me, results do matter, but I work hard for the process.”
“I’ve always realised that as an all-rounder, I give a lot of different options to the team. I’ll try to work on being an all-rounder, and if something doesn’t work out, then my batting is always there. But Hardik Pandya combined with both bat and ball, it sounds better than just a batter,” added Pandya.
