Rivals on the field, friends off it seems to be how Ravi Sai Kishore and Hardik Pandya view their relationship. Things heated up during the Mumbai Indians‘ match against the Gujarat Titans when Pandya and Sai Kishore had a serious staredown, leading to the umpire stepping in. Pandya even threw an expletive at Sai Kishore, but once the game wrapped up, they hugged it out. Sai Kishore said there’s nothing wrong with being competitive. “He’s a good friend of mine, he said in an interview. “On the field, everyone is an opponent, but we don’t take it personally. We’re good competitors, and that’s how the game should be.
In that match, Sai Kishore bowled four overs for 37 runs, taking the wicket of Robin Minz. He noted, “I wasn’t getting much help from the pitch, so I had to play defensively and do what I could for the team. The pitch actually played better than it looked.”
Chasing a big target of 197 runs, the Mumbai Indians fell short, only managing to score 160/6, marking their second loss of the season. Suryakumar Yadav was their top scorer with 48 runs off 28 balls, and Sai Kishore praised his performance. “He played really well and figured out my deliveries. When a batter plays a good shot, you have to give them credit. I relied on my instincts and listened to Shubman, who has seen Surya in the Indian nets. I just tried to play for the team.
Sai Kishore, who joined the IPL in 2020 with the Chennai Super Kings but didn’t get to play, was signed by GT in the 2022 auction. He’s had limited chances, playing only 12 matches in three seasons. This year, as one of GT’s key bowlers, he’s excited for what’s ahead. “I’m really looking forward to this season. I’ve watched a lot of games and learned from them. I’ve worked hard and let’s hope it turns out to be a great season, he said.
