The Phase 2 of IPL 2021 provides players with an opportunity to take their claim into the reckoning and Manish Pandey will be amongst the many to return back in favour of the national team selectors. The Karnataka star had the perfect chance to make it count in the series against Sri Lanka but failed to do so, earning little credit with his lacklustre performances. Pandey will be key to SRH’s chances who will look to bounce back to form.
Manish Pandey is putting in the hard yards heading into the IPL season, as he looks to turn it around in Phase 2. Sunrisers Hyderabad shared a picture of the Karnataka batsman working out with great intensity as he works his way into top shape for the tournament. The onus will be on Pandey to make it count in the remaining seven games after he was snubbed from the T20 World Cup squad, with Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer ahead of him in the pecking order.
No pain, no gain 💪
Here’s your #MondayMotivation, courtesy Manish 🙌#OrangeArmy #OrangeOrNothing pic.twitter.com/9NX4zz0RbX
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) September 13, 2021
Manish Pandey will also have added responsibility, with star man Jonny Bairstow opting out of the season. Pandey, who along with David Warner were dropped from the team due to poor form, and the Indian star will be aiming to prove his worth when the season restarts. The 32-year-old scored 193 in five games in Phase 1, but his strike rate of 123.71 was particularly frustrating as the Sunrisers struggled for momentum in the middle overs.
Sunrisers have only won one of their seven games, meaning that the now Kane Williamson led side have a mountain to climb in Phase 2. Their chances are further hit by the absence of Jonny Bairstow, with Sherfane Rutherford now coming in as his replacement. The 2016 IPL champions will need to win at least six of their remaining games to stay in contention and make it to the playoffs.
