Hardik Pandya’s all-round performance during Mumbai’s 37-run win over Chennai in the Indian T20 League has earned him a fan amongst the elite. Chennai coach, Stephen Fleming has admitted that the 25-year-old is Mumbai’s key weapon and that he is a massive fan of his.
The all-rounder scored an unbeaten 25 off just eight deliveries as Mumbai registered 170/5 after struggling for 57/3 midway through the game. Alongside Keiron Pollard, who smashed 17 off seven, Pandya hit three sixes and a boundary before the duo went on to score 29 runs in the final over to give their side a tidy end.
With the ball, the all-rounder worked wonders, picking 3 wickets, including that of MS Dhoni, and conceded just 20 runs from his allotted four over. His blistering form was crucial to hand the defending champions, Chennai, their first defeat of the season and this has prompt coach Stephen Fleming heap praises on Pandya.
"I am a massive fan (of Pandya), I think he is a wonderful player. His confidence is up, looks like he has a good thing going with what he is doing at the death. Plans should be now for teams to combat that. We were happy with what we were trying to do but executed it poorly," said Fleming at the post-match conference.
"He is a quality player. I think he is one of Mumbai's key weapons and one of India's key players going forward. If you keep him out of the game you often go on to win. But today with both bat and ball he was excellent," said the former New Zealand captain.
