Team India faced a selection dilemma ahead of the first ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) due to the lack of all-rounders in the side. Virat Kohli picked Hardik Pandya as a pure batsman above Manish Pandey, which turned a lot of heads.
Hardik Pandya did perform above expectations as he took the team to a respectable second-innings total after losing a few early wickets. His career-best ODI knock of 90 runs off 76 balls ensured that India went past the 300-run mark.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar revealed that he too was skeptical about the all-rounder being picked to bat at No. 6 knowing that he is not fit to bowl. However, he was impressed with the way Hardik showed a lot of promise.
Manjrekar told Sony Six, "I was a little skeptical as we haven’t seen Hardik Pandya, the pure batsman in the past. But after today, there is a lot of promise."
"When you see Hardik Pandya with the kind of ability that he showed today, you’ll be excited as a captain that you have him at No. 6. As an opposition, you’ll be slightly wary of Hardik Pandya at No. 6."
"He showed a lot of clarity. He didn’t take a lot of risks against the fast bowler and when the spinners came one, the big game came on," he added.
The former cricketer went on to add that he was impressed by Pandya but there needs to be clarity on what he will develop into. Manjrekar asked whether India wants to make him their best Test all-rounder or a pure batter in limited-overs.
Manjrekar said, "There was clarity and there was sense in the way he batted. I am very impressed. I must confess, I was a little surprised to see this side of Hardik Pandya because I haven’t seen this part in white-ball cricket."
AUS v IND 2020-21: "Unfair on Pandey as a pure batsman to miss out to Hardik", says Manjrekar
"He is actually an impressive product to look at. He has got all these peaks in his performances. He has got all the talent. But where is this going to all end up eventually? Is he going to be your Test all-rounder in future? Is he going to be a pure batter in 50-overs and T20Is. There is a lot of talent, but eventually, you have to carve out a niche for yourself," he added.
