Indian cricket team might have clinched the three-match T20I 2-1 series in Australia, but for Tom Moody, the biggest cause of concern is their middle-order and they must address it keeping in mind the upcoming two ICC mega-events in line in the next two years.
India didn't get a great start to their ongoing tour of Australia, as they suffered two back-to-back defeats in the three-match ODI series, however, the Men in Blue managed to bounce back and won three games – last ODI and first 2 T20Is of the three-match series, in a row against Australia.
Hardik Pandya was the star in both ODI and T20I series, but Team India failed to maintain the momentum, suffering a 12-run defeat in the final T20I on Tuesday against Australia, thanks to another middle-order failure from the tourists on the tour.
Moody, a former Australian cricketer-turned-commentator and coach, believes that the Indian team needs to recall Rishabh Pant in the white-ball set to solve their middle-order issue. Pant last played T20I in January 2020 and now dropped from the team after series of poor performances and poor IPL 2020.
The Aussie told ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday, “The concern for me is the middle order for India. I still feel that needs some addressing. I still feel that Pant for me is the answer. What he can do very few can do. So I think time to invest in him is very important.”
He was also elated to see the grand comeback of Pandya in Australia, saying “he has launched himself as a world-class finisher. And that’s not even including the fact that he can bowl when he’s fit.”
Moody further noted, “There are very far and few between. It’s a role that every team is trying to find and seek. He’s the very best in the world. What we’ve seen over the last two years here is that Pandya has pushed himself up in that space.”
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach also claimed India and former SRH opener Shikhar Dhawan has established himself as the ‘front-runner’ for India’s opening slot in T20I cricket.
He signed off by saying, “Shikhar Dhawan has clearly made himself the front-runner for that opening slot if there’s an issue with the combination of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. They are obviously the first pick but there was probably going into this series a question mark as to who can be that person. Shikhar to me is head and shoulders above the rest.”
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
