Former Baroda team coach Dav Whatmore tore into all-rounder Hardik Pandya for not playing enough domestic cricket in the past. Interestingly, his remarks come ahead of Pandya’s return to the domestic circuit where he will participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after the Sri Lanka series.
The ex-Pakistan coach also stressed on the need to show no further neglect to four-day games and heaped praise on BCCI for its efforts to make domestic cricket mandatory.
Whatmore amused over ‘all-rounder’ tag for Hardik Pandya
In a video uploaded on YouTube channel Pak Passion, Whatmore reveals that Hardik Pandya never played white-ball cricket for Baroda during the former’s last few years as the side’s coach.
“During my last few years in Baroda, Hardik Pandya wouldn’t ever have play white ball cricket. It always amuses me that he is termed as an all-rounder from Baroda but hasn’t played for Baroda in years,” Whatmore said.
Hardik Pandya’s unimpressive first-class career
Hardik Pandya’s first-class career isn’t something the all-rounder will be very proud of. Pandya has been a part of only 29 first-class games in which he has 1351 runs and 48 wickets to his name. His last first-class game for Baroda was back in December 2018.
Hardik’s return to the domestic circuit in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be crucial to determine his bowling fitness. Hardik Pandya‘s bowling limitations reportedly played a role in the recent selection committee’s decision to overlook him for leadership positions.