Hardik's all-round skills makes him the go-to player for captain in limited-overs cricket.
Hardik Pandya has been the answer to Team India’s biggest problem of finding a strong finisher and a seam bowling all-rounder. His exceptional power hitting and ability to chip in with some overs are the key reasons for his IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, to retain him. His value as a complete all-rounder with bat and ball, also the energy in his fielding efforts, has made life easy for the Indian captain Virat Kohli.
Ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, former India pacer Ajit Agarkar shared his views on Pandya’s impact on the bowling unit of Indian team.
“I hope he (Pandya) starts bowling. I am not quite sure why he didn’t bowl in the IPL. I think he bowled in the last ODI against England in Pune. So, I hope if there is an injury it must have been sorted. Because I think it was just a niggle that’s why he didn’t bowl. He walks into the side as a batsman but you need Hardik to bowl." Agarkar said in a press conference for Sony India-official broadcasters.
Agarkar also expressed his thoughts on how Hardik’s all-round skills make life easy for the captain.
“We saw in that series (England ODIs) how there was pressure on the other five bowlers when he couldn’t bowl. So, if you have a sixth option, at this moment the way the white-ball cricket is, it is hard on bowlers. You need a sixth option as one or two bowlers will have a tough day with five players in the ring. And he (Pandya) is an ideal one; he is a seam bowling all-rounder. If he can give you those four overs then, at least two or three overs, it takes off huge pressure. And then you can alter your combination. You might play two spinners if Hardik is available. It just makes captain’s job easier." Agarkar added.
ICC confirms fixtures for second WTC cycle; check out India's home and away opponents
With second half of IPL 2021 and T20 World Cup being shifted to UAE, one after the other, the supporters are speculating the pitches might not be lively by the time World Cup starts and thus expecting low-scoring matches. However, Agarkar who was in UAE for the coverage of IPL 2020, disagreed and stated otherwise.
“I mean there is only half of the IPL really (30 days). Look the pitches will be used up but I had covered the Abu Dhabi leg last year, and it stayed absolutely true. Sharjah was the only one which took a little bit of beating, but we didn’t see much difference in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I think what I have seen in Abu Dhabi, the pitches will stay true," he said.
The T20 World Cup is now shifted to UAE and Oman, and matches will begin from 17 October 2021. The key players of Team India will be playing Test series with England till 14 September and might have to look into the mix of things based on the Sri Lanka v India limited-overs series starting from 18 July.