Hardik Pandya has been playing as a specialist batter with no contribution with the ball lately.
India's veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh is in favor of playing Hardik Pandya against Pakistan on Sunday (October 24) in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Harbhajan said India aren't playing half bowlers in the side so they shouldn't worry about Hardik in the playing eleven without his contribution with the ball.
Harbhajan is backing Hardik to be impactful against Pakistan and he called him someone who has the ability of scoring 10-12 runs off the last 2-3 deliveries if needed.
"If I was part of the team management, I would definitely play him - probably only as a batter I surely would pick him. He has that ability that he India need 10 or 12 runs in the last 2-3 balls, we can rely on him. Bowling-wise, yes, India may fall a bowler short but we aren't playing with half bowlers. In Jadeja, Bumrah, Shami, Chakravarthy, India have five solid bowlers," he said on Sports Tak.
Harbhajan further said India doesn't have a replacement of Hardik in the playing eleven who could be so good at number 6 or 7 with the bat. "If you want to replace Hardik, then there is no such replacement for him yet because, at No. 6 or 7, we have no such option. If you ask Suryakumar Yadav, who bats at 3, to suddenly go and bat at 6 or 7, it wouldn't be possible. 8 out of 10 times he may not be able to do so.
"But Hardik Pandya has that chance. If he stays there and plays 2 balls, he can send at least one of them for 6. I would rather stick with 5 bowlers and 6 batters with Pandya being a part of it," he added.
Even Virender Sehwag had kept Hardik as his first pick in Team India against Pakistan. Hardik wasn't in form with the bat during the Indian Premier League 2021. Team India would be hoping for him to come good in the important match.
(With Sports Tak Inputs)