Former India opener Wasim Jaffer said that he is concerned as all-rounder Hardik Pandya looked rusty in the recent T20I series between West Indies and India, which the Men in Blue lost 2-3 after losing the fifth and final match on August 13 in Florida.
Hardik Pandya led the Indian team in the five-match series after Rohit Sharma was rested and became the first-ever Indian captain to lose a five-match T20I series.
Brandon King's 85* and Nicholas Pooran’s 47 and their 107-run partnership for the second wicket was enough for West Indies to overhaul India’s 165/9 with ease and win the game by 8 wickets.
Going into the ODI World Cup, stand-in captain Hardik Pandya's form will be a cause for concern. The all-rounder scored only 77 runs during the series at a strike rate of 110. Meanwhile, his bowling also wasn't up to the mark.
Wasim Jaffer pointed out that Pandya didn't look like he was in decent form and it could be problematic for his side. To make matters worse, Pandya could only muster 14 off 18 deliveries in the series decider.
"Well, it has been a concern. He looks little rusty. We can't say that the free-flowing Hardik Pandya comes in and strikes it sweetly. Doesn't mean hitting sixes but striking it nicely, rotating the strike. Apart from the fifty he scored in the 3rd ODI, where also he started very very slowly, and picked it up in the slog overs. But even then he looked a little rusty," said Jaffer on ESPNCricinfo.
"That's a concern for me. Looking at how Hardik Pandya batted in the series, that was a big concern. Not every time he is going to start slowly, and he is going to finish strongly. We could see this during this series as well. As soon as he comes, the momentum drops down, the strike rate comes down and puts the pressure on the other guys and the dugout as well. Something for him to worry about, take note and improve," he further added.
The next assignment for Hardik Pandya will be the Asia Cup 2023 where India will play Pakistan on September 2nd and Nepal on September 4 in the group stage. The tournament will begin on August 30, with the final to be played on September 17.
