Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya’s bowling return did not turn out to be a fruitful one. Before the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, there were doubts whether Hardik will play as a pure batter or as an all-rounder in the IPL. Also, he went to National Cricket Academy (NCA) to prove his fitness, where he bowled consistently over 130kmph after clearing the Yo-Yo fitness test. However, the hard work did not convert into satisfactory bowling figures at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Hardik conceded a total of 37 runs from his four overs. On IPL captaincy debut, introduced himself right after the powerplay overs and started off well with just one single in his first over. In the next over, he conceded one boundary off Hooda's bat and two singles. He continued his spell in the middle overs but Hooda got a couple of boundaries of his third over. He leaked 11 runs from his third over but still had decent bowling figures.
However, Pandya's bowling figures were disturbed when he came back to bowl just before the powerplay overs. Ayush Badoni started off with a six followed by two fours off the first three deliveries. After a single, Hooda finished off with a boundary. From three overs, he conceded 18 runs but ended up conceding 19 off his last one.
Before the clash against LSG, Titans’ bowling coach Ashish Nehra spoke highly of the Baroda all-rounder.
"When I saw him in Baroda, he was good, bowling around 80%. That was a few weeks back and he was feeling really comfortable. Since then he went to the NCA and has been practising non-stop. He has used this word, 'surprise', once or twice, so I jokingly asked him, 'What is this surprise?'" Nehra questioned Hardik.
"From day one I have been saying, in any T20 squad, I will take Hardik Pandya as a pure batter. As far as our franchise is concerned, I am looking at him more as a captain and batsman. And maybe that is why he is saying his bowling is a 'surprise'," the former Indian left-arm fast bowler added.
In the last two seasons, Hardik did not bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians (MI). After his back surgery, he could not play the role of a fast-bowling all-rounder for India as well in the T20 World Cup 2021. He bowled a few overs but looked like a pale shadow of himself. After the T20 World Cup, Hardik took a break and worked on his fitness to deliver as an all-rounder.
