IPL 2021, MI vs PBKS: What prompted Hardik Pandya to bounce back to form?

Mumbai Indians beat Punjab Kings by six wickets in the IPL 2021 clash in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. As Hardik Pandya is seemingly back to form, he reveals what made him go after the bowlers.

Defending champion Mumbai Indians (MI) came up with a bold statement as it defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six wickets in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The win allows MI to rise to the fifth spot and stay in the contention for playoffs.

The match saw all-rounder Hardik Pandya bounce back to form, as his unbeaten 40 helped MI register its first win in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leg of the tournament. While he had been out of form for most of the season, he has revealed the reason behind bouncing back and has credit his PBKS counterpart, seamer Mohammed Shami for it.

"To be honest, I will give credit to Mohammed Shami as well because the ball I got hit, I told Pollard that this woke up, and this changed things for me. Before that, I was finding it difficult," he was quoted as saying in a video on IPL's website.

"Over the period of time, I have realised when I make sure that every game, every opportunity is a new opportunity. You can be a hero and can make your team. I forget what has happened in the past, and I make sure to give my 100 per cent," he concluded.

Pandya's bounce back to form comes at a crucial time, as MI desperately needs wins to qualify for the playoffs. Also, with the ICC World T20 upcoming, Pandya needs some good form heading into the tournament and justify his selection, as he is reportedly closely monitored by the selectors. At the same time, failure to perform could lead to him being dropped before October 10.