Former India opener Aakash Chopra has opined that Indian team management should think about sending Hardik Pandya ahead of Rishabh Pant in the batting order while discussing the second T20I preparations against South Africa which will be played in Cuttack on June 12, 2022.
Hardik came to bat at number five in the first T20I against South Africa and remained unbeaten on 31 runs from 12 balls. During his stay at the crease, he scored three sixes and two fours to help India cross the 200-run mark. Rishabh Pant, who is captaining the Indian team, made 29 in 16 balls at no.4.
Chopra feels Hardik can be better utilized in the top order rather than his usual number five position.
"I feel you should send Hardik Pandya slightly up the order whenever a wicket falls after the 10th to 12th over. If you give him 30 balls to play, he is going to give you a 70 or an 80. He will do something like that. You can send Hardik Pandya ahead of Rishabh Pant,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra also said that Rishabh Pant should give Yuzvendra Chahal his full quota of 4 overs. This comes after Chahal bowled only 2 overs in the first T20I in Delhi., conceding 26 runs and failing to take any wickets.
“Should there be any change in the bowling? Get Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl first and give him his full quota of four overs. That's one thing you must do. An interesting stat about Harshal Patel is that he bowls very well at the death, but for RCB he gives nine-odd runs per over, compared to 11 runs per over for India. So, he has been slightly under the scanner when it comes to India," he said.
