- 'We cannot compromise with our discipline to bowl tight line and length, especially we are up against batting prowess of the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers. Moreover, we wait for them to commit mistakes.'
Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya said his team's focus against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League match in Bengaluru on Wednesday would be bowling with discipline and avoid conceding far too many runs on a high-scoring ground.
"We know this is a high-scoring ground and as a bowler, we have to be ready for everything, but it would not be wise to concede 40 runs in four overs, which works against us," Pandya said on Tuesday.
On the challenge of bowling to the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, he said the bowlers go into every match with a positive frame of mind and bowl according to a set plan.
"As a bowler, we need to be confident and positive about it. We cannot compromise with our discipline to bowl tight line and length, especially we are up against batting prowess of the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers. Moreover, we wait for them to commit mistakes," he said.
Pandya said the pressure would be on both the sides as they know that their hopes for a play-offs berth could take a big dent if they lose.
"Obviously, RCB is a side which always look good and confident, but the pressure is on us and them also. This is a do-or-die match for us. And we know someone loses, it might end their quest for making into the next stage. Let us see who takes the pressure better, and comes out winning," he said.
Pandya said that the Mumbai Indians have moved on after their poor showing against Sunrisers Hyderabad and are looking to come up with improved performances in the upcoming games.
"To be honest, it is very simple. We don't think much about the result because whatever happened is history. We are just looking forward to the RCB match, and, we would like to play as possible and, towards that end we are preparing for it," he said.
Asked what was the thinking for opting Visakhapatnam as home ground, Pandya said the team did not have any option but to opt for that city.
"To be honest, we did not have any option, but to go there. I don't know if there were many grounds left in the country. So, we had to go Visakhapatnam," he said.
