MI Bowlers could not extract much on tough surface, says Hardik as they once again concede a score above 200 this IPL.
MI Bowlers were in for another hiding yesterday as a combination of poor lengths and a tough Wankhede surface contributed to them conceding another 200+ score this season.
The return of Bumrah did not have the effect that his side would have expected as the rest of the MI bowlers went over 10 rpo.
But despite the struggles of the bowling, skipper Hardik has refused to pin the blame of defeat on them.
Hardik on his bowlers
“I think the way the wicket was, the bowlers didn’t have anywhere to hide,” he said. “It came down to execution. If someone executed well, you couldn’t stop the batters, but I don’t want to be harsh on the bowlers, it was a tough track, they didn’t have many options.”
He also praised Bumrah on his return after injury, with the latter the only bowler to go below 10 runs an over amid all the carnage. He finished the game with figures of 0/29 in his 4 overs.
“Very good, having him makes the team, any team really special,” Hardik said. “He came and did his job. Having him is good, very happy.”
Explanation on Tilak’s retired out
Hardik consequently also provided an explanation on Tilak Verma’s “retired out” against LSG. The left-hander produced an excellent batting display yesterday as he and Hardik almost pulled out a memorable run chase.
Tilak scored a whirlwind 56 of 29 balls as he combined with his skipper to devastating effect in a game-changing partnership of 89 runs in just 39 balls.
Hardik cited that contrary to the outside noise, the decision was a tactical move that also had a little something to do with an injury sustained by Tilak pre-game as well.
“Tilak was fantastic,” Hardik said at the post-match presentation. “Last game, a lot of things happened. People made [up] a lot of things about it, but people don’t know he had a nasty hit the previous day [in the nets]. It was a tactical call, but because of the finger injury the coach felt someone fresh can do it. But he was fantastic today.”
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