'They can do what Pollard, Pandya did': Harbhajan picks Australian duo to fill big shoes for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has identified two cricketers who can fill the void left by Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Pollard, who has been with MI ever since the start of his IPL career back in time, announced his retirement last year but continues to be a part of the franchise as its batting coach, whereas Pandya was chosen by Gujarat Titans to be their captain ahead of IPL 2022. And without Pandya and Pollard, both of whom have been an integral part of the most successful IPL team in history, MI have struggled to get the combination right.

However, in order to get their campaign back on track this year after failing to reach the Playoffs two seasons in a row now, MI restructured their squad and bolstered it by adding a couple of promising all-rounders. And hence, Harbhajan, who himself was associated with MI for several seasons has earmarked Tim David and Cameron Green to take up the role which Pollard and Pandya had performed for so many years.

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"Well, they will be successful if Tim David can do the same thing that Pollard was doing and whether Green can do what Hardik was doing. But yes, they do have the potential, but IPL is such a tournament that if you start to get going from day one, you will have a good season. If you don’t get going, and you have to find that rhythm, it gets very difficult," Harbhajan said on "IPL on Star' Mumbai Trophy Tour" show.

Australia's David and Green have been bumper buys for MI. David was picked for ₹8.25 crore during the IPL mega auction last year and it proved to be a game changer for them. David scored 187 from nine matches including a couple of quickfire innings including an unbeaten 46 off 21 balls against Gujarat Giants and 34 off just 11 balls against the Delhi Capitals.

Green, meanwhile is expected to take over the mantle from Pollard. The big-hitting Australian fast bowling all-rounder was purchased at a whopping 17.5 crore during the IPL auction earlier this year and MI will take a lot of heart from his recent exploits against India, where he scored a century in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Ahmedabad.