IPL 2018: Mahela Jayawardena comes down hard on Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has had a horrendous outing in Mumbai’s last game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Though he picked up a couple of wickets, he was all at sea during the run-chase. He came to bat at the dying stages of the game and was expected to guide the team to their second victory, bearing in mind the ability he possesses.

However, he strained throughout his 19-ball stint in which he scored only three runs and was eventually dismissed by Sidharth Kaul. He also played out a maiden over in Rashid Khan’s last over. The knock definitely didn’t impress Mahela Jayawardena and he slammed the Indian all-rounder for not developing his game as his career has progressed.

The harsh criticism for Hardik Pandya

He highlighted the prominence of hard work in order for talent to flourish into something substantial.  “Every year you can’t bat the same way, if people don’t evolve and improve, there is no progress. Young guys like Hardik will learn that and need to work harder, the talent alone will not get you,” Hardik Pandya was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Pandya was rested in the Nidahas Trophy against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Prior to that, the Gujarat-born cricketer toured South Africa. However, after playing a brilliant knock in the opening Test in Cape Town, his lost his form and the struggle continued in the limited-over series’ as well. Jayawardena also talked about the need to learn endlessly to survive the rigours of the game.

“Leading the game and thinking about the game, that’s the part they need to keep learning and especially with good international bowlers coming and doing various things you have to evolve otherwise you won’t be able to be consistent” the former Sri Lankan cricketer added.

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