IPL 2021: When will Hardik Pandya play for Mumbai Indians? Shane Bond provides update

Mumbai Indians seems to be missing the services of Hardik Pandya, as it succumbed to its second successive loss of the UAE leg. Meanwhile, Shane Bond has an update on the all-rounder's return.

Defending champion Mumbai Indians (MI) seems to be having a tough time in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL), which has resumed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a couple of matches it has played since resumption, MI has been at the receiving end.

On Thursday, it suffered a heavy seven-wicket defeat to former champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Consequently, it has dropped to the sixth spot in the points table.

Meanwhile, it was notable that all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not made it to the playing XI in UAE, while his performance during the India leg was not impressive either. In the same light, MI's bowling coach Shane Bond has provided an update on his return, as he is yet to gain full match fitness.

During the post-match press conference, Bond revealed that Pandya had been training well with the side and is close to playing, while the team is balancing out the type of players it needs in its playing XI, reports ESPNCricinfo. However, he revealed that the franchise would not rush him into the tournament, giving his fitness the utmost priority for the IPL and the upcoming ICC World T20, to be held in the gulf from next month as he would be featuring for Team India.

Notably, Hardik has refrained from bowling full-time as a part of his workload management since he underwent his back surgery in 2020. However, the national selector deemed him 100% fit before making his selection for WT20.

Nonetheless, Bond denied Pandya's back issues had anything to do with him being rested, as the side is desperate to have him back on the field soon. But it won't rush his return either, as him getting injured again and missing the rest of the season would harm the side and Team India.