IPL 2020: Our batsmen are in very good rhythm, says Mumbai coach Mahela

Dubai - The Sri Lankan said the team needed to careful while handling all-rounder Hardik Pandya who had returned from an injury layoff

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene is pleased with the rhythm of his team's batsman despite the players having a long break due to Covid-19.
"The guys in the team have had some really good training sessions here. Most of the Indian boys are in very good condition," Jayawardene said.
"What we only have to do is making sure we give them some match situation, because no one has played any competition. Some of the overseas players did not have opportunities to bat, so we made sure that they did some extra work in the nets here. Now they all look in very good rhythm.
"Having had the last practice match few days back, I am very satisfied where everyone is. And now it's about us mentally getting ready for the first game."
The Sri Lankan said the team needed to careful while handling all-rounder Hardik Pandya who had returned from an injury layoff.
"Hardik is coming back from an injury. So we will have to be mindful of that but he is looking very good in the nets. Both the players (Pandya brothers) have been fantastic for MI over the last three or four years. It brings a lot of energy to the group," Jayawardene said.
With the aggressive style of batting, Hardik can change the game in a few overs at number six or seven.
"We have used him (Hardik) in different roles in the past and we will look into that," said Jayawardene.
"We will have quite a number of other players who can fit into that role as well, so whenever the opportunity is there we ask anyone to finish the game off.
"It doesn't just fall on Hardik but it is one of his responsibilities, so we want to try and challenge players in different ways in this camp, so we will continue to do that."
The Mumbai coach also opened up on the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah who would be playing the India-Australia series Down Under after the end of the IPL.
A stress fracture had kept Bumrah out of the game for four months in 2019.
"Boom (Bumrah's nickname) has been training really hard during the quarantine period because of Indian commitments (which got postponed). He has had a lot of bowling done back home as well, trying to keep up the load, because following the IPL, there will probably a Test series (Australia) for the Indian boys," he said.
"For IPL, he looks quite sharp and Bumrah being very professional, he has looked after himself very, very well during that quarantine period and he is quite eager to go out and perform."
 

• IPL 2019