IPL 2019: Kieron Pollard applauds 'Small guy' Hardik Pandya's big hitting talent

Pandya has so far amassed 355 runs in 12 games, studded with 27 sixes and 25 fours

A smasher of the cricket ball himself, Kieron Pollard Wednesday praised his Mumbai Indians teammate Hardik Pandya for his six-hitting prowess and said the all-rounder packs a lot of punch. “He is a small guy but hits (the ball) a long way. And again once he continues to practice well and continue to evolve as a cricketer, you can see him doing great things not only for Mumbai Indians but by extension Indian cricket,” said Pollard about Pandya ahead of MI's IPL game. Pandya has so far amassed 355 runs in 12 games, studded with 27 sixes and 25 fours. Most of his runs have come towards the end, the last being the blistering 91 off 34 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. “He's not really practising differently. It is about believing in his ability. Obviously, the situations he has been in, he had no choice but to go and hit and he has shown his power-game as well, so it's good for him. Even when he came onto the scene, if you remember, a couple of games for Mumbai (Indians), he finished off with his big hits. “It is a matter of him having the confidence because he is one of those guys who is free-spirited and will just go out and try to use his youthful exuberance to have an impact on the game,” Pollard explained. “I am sure even if there is something technical that he has worked on, he wouldn't want to put that out in the media. That is something that if he is working on his game, he does it in private. He wants you guys to see the results of his hard work,” he added.