Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya has revealed that things changed for him after being hit by a fiery bouncer from Mohammed Shami, and he decided to finish off the game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 encounter.

After getting hit by the bouncer, Hardik smashed two fours and a six in the penultimate over bowled by Mohammed Shami as his 40 not out off 30 balls saw MI snap a three-match losing streak successfully chasing down a target of 136 in 19 overs.

Mumbai Indians (MI) put on a clinical show with both bat and the ball to register their first win of the UAE leg by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) and stay alive in the playoffs race.

“To be honest, I will give credit to Mohammed Shami as well because the ball I got hit, I told Pollard that this woke me up and this changed things for me. Before that, I was finding it difficult. Over the period of time, I have realized when I make sure that every game, every opportunity is a new opportunity.

“You can be a hero and can make your team win. I forget what has happened in the past and I make sure to give my 100 percent,” Hardik Pandya said in a video that was posted on iplt20.com.

Nathan Coulter Nile said in the same video that Adam Milne deserved the right to start in the Mumbai Indians’ playing XI in the first few matches of UAE leg.

“I think it is more about being ready. Adam Milne deserved the right to start us off. He was bowling fast in the warm-up games, so he got the start but we did not get the results we wanted. You have to make sure that you are prepared when you are called to play,” Nathan Coulter Nile said.