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If We Push Hardik Pandya Too Hard To Bowl He Might Struggle Mahela Jayawardene

If we push Hardik Pandya too hard to bowl, he might struggle: Mahela Jayawardene

Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene has said that the team management is not in a hurry to ask Hardik Pandya to bowl in the IPL till he is fit.

“He (Hardik) hasn’t bowled for a long period of time, so we are just trying to do the best for Hardik. We are in constant touch with the Indian team management on Hardik’s case,” he told reporters during a virtual press conference.

“Whether he will bowl in the IPL or not we will look on a daily basis. I feel at the moment if we push him too hard, he might struggle,” he added.

Pandya who underwent a successful back injury in 2019 hasn’t bowled much since. In fact, the right-hander didn’t bowl a single delivery during the India leg of the IPL 2021 and it has been a similar scenario in the second half of the league as well. Though he did chip in with some overs during India’s limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka, he never looked close to his previous self.

The right-handed cricketer has been playing as a pure batsman for MI and was among some runs in the last match after he struck an unbeaten 40 off 30 deliveries against Punjab Kings in Abu Dhabi. Hardik’s innings eventually helped MI to clinch a much-needed win in the competition. MI will now take on KKR in Sharjah on Saturday.

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Watch | Fans divided as Punam Raut sparks 'spirit of the game' debate

India batter Punam Raut gathered praise from all around after she walked off despite the umpire signalling not out during the Day-night Test against Australia in Queenstown. During the second day of the pink-ball Test between the two sides, Raut went for a drive on a length delivery from Molineux and edged the ball. Wicket-keeper Healy took a clean catch and the home side went for a loud appeal for a caught behind but the umpire turned it down. The batter showed some spirit and went back to the pavilion. The visitors have been pretty dominant in the match after they put 276/5 before the game was halted due to bad weather in the second session on the second day. Opener Smriti Mandhana was the pick of the batters after she notched up a ton and became the first Indian batter to score a ton in women’s Tests in Australia. The Mithali Raj-led side began the proceedings on the second day of the match with the overnight score of 132/1. India were 217/3 when captain Mithali was joined by debutant Yastika Bhatia in the middle and the two players stitched a stand of 44 runs for the fourth wicket before Bhatia was sent back in the hut for 19. Mithali too followed her soon after she was run out for 30 by Sutherland. India had Deepti Sharma unbeaten at 12 while Taniya Bhatia at 0* when the match was stopped.

Pink-ball Test | Visitors steady at 276/5 before hailstorm plays spoilsport on Day 2

The second day of the pink-ball Test between India women’s and Australia women’s team was halted after there was an occurrence of hailstorm during the second session. The visitors were in a commanding position before the play was stopped as they had put 276/5 with Deepti Sharma (12*) and Taniya Bhatia (0*) still at the crease. India rode on some fascinating batting display from opener Smriti Mandhana who became the first Indian batter to score a ton in women’s Tests on Australian soil. The Mithali Raj-led side began the proceedings at 132/1 on Day 2 with Punam Raut (16*) and Mandhana (80*) at the crease. The left-handed opener added 47 more runs to his runs tally before getting out to Gardner while Raut was undone for 36 by Molineux. Later, captain Mithali and debutant Yastika Bhatia chipped in with a partnership of 44 runs before Bhatia departed for 19. Raj followed her soon after when the team score sheet read 274. “Really happy that I finally I got through this 80s period, I keep getting out in 80s and 90s and really pleased to get the hundred. Obviously disappointed as you want to get as much as you can after being set but overall really happy. I like the ball coming onto the bat and short ball is something I look forward to and I'm happy they bowled short and whichever were in my zone, I had to go for it,” Mandhana said after her knock.

Ashes will go ahead with or without Joe Root: Tim Paine

Australia Test captain Tim Paine has said that the Ashes will go ahead as scheduled ‘with or without’ England skipper Joe Root who hasn’t committed to the tour yet till he gets a clear picture on the quarantine rules. "I feel it's so hard to make a definite decision until you know,” Root had said earlier this week. "Well, the Ashes are going ahead -- the first Test is on December 8 whether Joe's here or not," Paine told SEN sports radio. “They all want to come, there's no doubt about it," he added, Paine further insisted that the final decision would be taken by the higher authorities. "They're trying to get themselves the best possible conditions they can, but at the end of the day, we all are. It will be worked out above us and then they'll make a decision whether or not they'll get on that plane. There will be a squad of England players coming here for the first Test on December 8th." The Ashes is scheduled to begin on December 8 in Brisbane while the teams will then move to Adelaide for the second Test. The third and fourth encounter are slated to be held in Melbourne and Sydney while the teams will then travel to Perth for the final Test. But the fifth fixture of the series is under dark clouds as Western Australia needs the inter-state visitors to quarantine for 14 days on their arrival.

Richa Ghosh joins Hobart Hurricanes for upcoming season of WBBL

India wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh has been signed by Hobart Hurricanes for the upcoming season of the women’s Big Bash League. Ghosh is the seventh Indian player to join the T20 tournament. While Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma joined Sydney Thunder, Shafali Verma and Radha Yadav were signed by Sydney Sixers. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur have joined Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming edition of WBBL. The right-hander who has been capped thrice in ODIs and nine times in T20Is is the third overseas signing by the Hurricanes. The other two players are New Zealand's Rachel Priest and South Africa's Mignon du Preez. Richa who is with the Indian team in Australia expressed her delight on joining the club and thanked Hurricanes for giving the opportunity. "I'm very excited to be playing in the WBBL this year. I'm very thankful to the Hurricanes for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward to coming to Tasmania and meeting up with my new teammates,” she said. In 9 T20Is that she has played, Ghosh has scored 126 runs at a strike-rate of 112.50 and was in decent form with the bat during the recently-concluded ODI series against Australia away from home.