Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma suggested that his teammate Hardik Pandya might be able to start bowling from next week.

Ishan Kishan made a remarkable return to form, scoring an unbeaten 50 off just 25 deliveries to steer MI to an 8-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday.

The Indian selectors have named Hardik in the T20 World Cup squad, but the all-rounder has not been bowling for two years after undergoing back surgery in the UK.

Though Pandya is a part of India's ICC T20 World Cup squad, the BCCI has been cautious about increasing his workload ever since he returned from a back surgery last year. 

After missing the first two games in the second leg of the tournament, Hardik played for MI purely as a batsman.

Pollard became the first player to have over 10,000 runs and 300 wickets to his name in the T20 format.

Hardik smashed two fours and a six in the penultimate over bowled by Mohammed Shami as his 40 not out off 30 balls saw MI snap a three-match losing streak successfully chasing down a target of 136 in 19 overs.

Mumbai Indians' bowling coach Shane Bond talked about Hardik Pandya's absence from the XI and also opened up on the side's disappointing loss against KKR on Thursday.

Kieron Pollard had led the side against Chennai Super Kings in the absence of Rohit, who has a dodgy knee while Pandya also missed the game due to a niggle.

While the MI skipper missed the clash due to a knee niggle from the England tour, Pandya had a minor injury during training and both were rested as precautionary measures, says coach Jayawardene.

The star all-rounders of Mumbai Indians have joined the team camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021.

Pandya is unable to bowl regularly since he returned to international cricket following his back surgery in 2019.

India, part of Group 2 in Super 12, will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan on October 24.

Even though Pandya didn't bowl for Mumbai Indians during IPL, he rolled his arm over in the limited-overs games for India against England in March this year.

Even though he didn't bowl for Mumbai Indians, Pandya rolled his arm over in the limited-overs games for India against England in March this year.  

In the T20I series against England, Hardik bowled for the first time since September 2019, when he had been sidelined with a back injury.

Earlier this month, Hardik had announced that his entire family, including brother Krunal, would donate 200 oxygen concentrators to help the rural areas

After undergoing a back surgery in 2019, Hardik has not bowled regularly since his comeback and not being able to offer his all-round skills cost him a place in the Indian Test squad for the UK tour.

In the absence of big guns like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, a limited-overs squad will be playing three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs in the Island nation

India's limited-overs specialists will be playing three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs in the island nation during the second half of July