Hardik Pandya has bowled only four overs in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa so far.
During the recently held IPL season, Hardik captained Gujarat Titans (GT) to the title victory in their maiden appearance. He led the side from the front, scoring 487 runs and claiming 8 wickets in the tournament.
However, the all-rounder hasn’t lived up to the expectations with his bowling in the three T20Is against South Africa so far. Pandya bowled only one over and conceded 18 runs in the first T20I, while he returned with the figures of 0/31 in three overs in the second game and didn’t bowl in the third match.
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Amid the talks around Hardik’s bowling rhythm, Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath on Wednesday (June 15) said that the all-rounder has garnered enough experience to know how to regain his mojo back.
"Hardik has got so much experience now. He knows what he needs to do. He doesn't need to be told by coaches what he needs to do. He is a quality all-rounder, quality hitter," McGrath told reporters in Chennai.
"Some games go well, others don't as well. Overall, he knows what he needs to do," he added.
Speaking about the art of fast bowling, McGrath said: "A lot of coaches think that bowling quick is the important thing. To just run and bowl as quick as you can is not the be all and end all.. Holding your action, bowling good areas, building pressure, taking wickets."
McGrath had special praise reserved for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is doing exceptionally well in the ongoing T20I series.
“Bhuvi is a quality bowler. He gets movement, very good control and deceptive pace. The experience he has will stand him in good stead."
Glenn McGrath, who is Director of Coaching at the famed MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, also shared his thoughts on the products of the pace foundation.
"I'm really pleased with how they have performed especially Mukesh Chaudhry. Even the others such as Khaleel Ahmed and Prasidh Krishna have performed quite well on a grand stage such as the IPL. A total of 19 of our boys have played in IPL thus far and that fills me with pride."
(With PTI inputs)