Hardik Pandya did not bowl in Mumbai Indians’ IPL opener on Friday due to a shoulder concern, team’s Director of Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan told PTI. Khan added the the India all-rounder will soon contribute in team’s cause with ball in his hand.

Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, lost their opening game to Royal Challengers Bangalore by two wickets. 

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After several questions were raised pertaining to Hardik Pandya’s role with the ball, Zaheer Khan in pre-match conference ahead of their game against Kolkata Knight Riders said, “Hardik, as a whole package is always of great value, everyone knows that. It was a workload related thing in the previous game.”

Pandya played as a full-fledged allrounder during England’s tour of India last month. 

“He bowled in the whole England series, in the last ODI he bowled about nine overs and that is why in consultation with the physio, we had to take that approach. There was a little bit of a shoulder concern but I don’t think it is worrisome. You will see him bowl very soon. We are very confident that he will be chipping in with the ball in his hand as well,” Khan continued.

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The former left-arm pacer also addressed Kieron Pollard as a sixth bowling option. 

“Pollard is our sixth bowling option. In that department we are not very concerned. You have to just adapt and adjust.”

Mumbai went in with 20-year-old Marco Jensen, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult and Rahul Chahar as their main bowling options versus RCB. Khan said that the team might have to adapt to the situation and change their combinations going ahead.

“This year’s format is a different format. So, from that point of view, we need to have that adaptability and flexibility around the squad as well, with different places, not playing in your home ground, which is what we accept and planning accordingly with regard to the season ahead,” he added.

According to Zaheer, South African opener Quinton De Kock is available for the game on Tuesday.

“Quinton is out of his quarantine. He did a practice session yesterday with the team. He is looking forward to the season. He will be available for tomorrow’s game,” he said further praising the way Chris Lynn filled the former Portea wicketkeeper’s shoes.

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The Australian batsman made a quick-fire 49. Now that Quinton will be available, it’s still not clear if Lynn will keep his place.

“It is a good headache to have as a management, like I was earlier saying we are lucky and fortunate to have such a squad where people are waiting to grab those opportunities, and pushing each other, so that’s the exciting part.”

Talking about Ishan Kishan, Khan said, “Ishan Kishan is looking assured now. When you are growing as a cricketer, when you are trying to make that impact at the highest level, you know you have that tipping point and with Ishan last year was that tipping point when he played that knock against RCB.”

“He (Kishan) just flourished from there and he is in the same zone and going about doing his business, making sure he is continuing with those processes and spending enough time in the nets and trying to better himself,” he added.

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Zaheer also described pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as their trump card and said he was someone, who could turn the game at any stage. Asked whether Bumrah should have bowled earlier in the last game against RCB, Zaheer quipped, “You can’t set a pattern to use a trump card, you have to use trump card in an aggressive manner, when you are really need it.”

“And that was the discussion and that is generally the process around Jasprit. He is someone who can turn the game at any stage and we use him accordingly,” he signed off.