'People Don't Know...': Hardik Pandya Reveals Why Tilak Varma Was Retired Out
After MI's loss to RCB, skipper Hardik Pandya revealed in the post-match presentation ceremony on their reason to retire Tilak Varma out in the previous game.
Tilak Varma being asked to retire himself out sparked massive outrage after the Mumbai Indians’ match against the Lucknow Super Giants. But the MI captain, Hardik Pandya, had clarified their reasons after the young batting star put in a valiant performance against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, during their clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
The young left-hander, after struggling for form in the previous game, showcased a top-class batting performance, scoring 56 in 29 balls laced with four boundaries and as many maximums. Pandya, however, revealed the reasons behind him being sent back to the dugout.
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“Last game, a lot of things happened. People made a lot of things about it, but people don’t know that he had a very nasty hit the previous day," Pandya revealed, as quoted by Cricbuzz at the post-match presentation ceremony after the game against RCB.
“It was a tactical call, but because of the finger (injury) which he had, the coach just felt that that was a better option that someone fresh can come and do it. Today, he was fantastic," he added.
MI suffered a crushing defeat by 12 runs against RCB, ending their decade-long hold against their rivals at their home ground. Krunal Pandya put in a stellar performance with the ball, finishing with a four-wicket haul, taking three wickets in the final over of the innings.
Hardik Pandya put in a valiant effort with the bat as well, with a blistering knock of 42 in 15 balls to put MI’s chase on track. But it fell in vain as MI’s dismal start to the season continues. The big positive for the five-time champions will be Tilak’s batting form as they hope to turn things around in the coming games.
They will regroup and look to get back to winning ways in their next fixture which is an away game against Delhi Capitals in April 13 (Sunday).
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