IPL 2020: MI coach Bond hopes Pandya gets some games before season opener

Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond hopes that injured India international Hardik Pandya plays some games before the start of the 2020 IPL season.

“I only hope Hardik Pandya gets to play some cricket before the IPL,” Shane Bond said.

Mumbai Indians bowling coach Shane Bond wants Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from back surgery, to play a few matches before the start of the new Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Bond will be travelling to Mumbai for a meeting with the franchise. The former New Zealand pacer is confident that the Indian all-rounder will come back stronger.

“I only hope he gets to play some cricket before the IPL and always believe it’s better to spend a little bit longer for coming back rather than rushing it,” Bond said.

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“There’s no doubt he can come back. I am just pleased that they are taking an orthodox approach with Hardik's rehabilitation and T20s, especially IPL will be nice for him to come back as he will not be over-bowled.”

Pandya underwent a productive net session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru recently. He was seen batting in the nets and he mainly played with a straight bat. It is not yet clear if he will make a comeback during the South Africa ODIs next month.

Earlier this month, Pandya was ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand after failing to regain full match fitness. The decision was taken after the 26-year-old consulted spinal surgeon James Allibone in the United Kingdom. Pandya underwent successful surgery in October last year to treat an acute lower-back injury and has remained out of action since then.