"He Won Us The Game": Hardik Pandya Names True Match-Winner For MI vs DC

Hardik Pandya cannot thank Mumbai Indians management enough for their empathy, love and care which kept the team going even after losing the first three games.

Hardik Pandya cannot thank Mumbai Indians management enough for their empathy, love and care which kept the team going even after losing the first three games under his captaincy and having to face the unfair wrath from home fans. His return to Mumbai Indians as captain, replacing their five-time IPL-winning skipper Rohit Sharma, did not sit well with fans as he faced constant booing during first three games, including the previous one at the Wankhede. The three losses to start the season added to the woes and Pandya found himself under intense scrutiny. "There was a lot of love and care going around, everyone knows we lost three games but the belief and backing was there, everyone believes we needed just one win and today was the start," Pandya said at the post-match presentation following their 29-run win over Delhi Capitals.

"It was a lot of hard work. We had to clear our minds and make sure that we believed," said the skipper as his team played the first game after six-day break.

Batting at No 7, Guyanese all-rounder Romario Shepherd single-handedly took the match out of DC's reach, smashing Anrich Nortje for 32 runs in the last over.

"That was some hitting," he said about Romario's 39 not out from 10 balls.

"He won us the game. Difference was Romario versus Delhi Capitals. I like him. Always has a smile on his face, doesn't run away," he said.