T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya all set to be dumped – India’s humiliating loss against Pakistan by 10 wickets has triggered a raging debate on many decisions that coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli had taken for the match. One decision that changed the course of the match was Hardik Pandya and with him flopping once again, in all probabilities, the junior Pandya brother is all set to be dumped in favour of Shardul Thakur for the match against New Zealand on October 31.
Hardik Pandya’s return of 11 runs off 8 balls raised many questions on the lack of flexibility in coach Ravi Shastri and captain Kohli’s shown over the all-rounder’s inclusion. Why is he in the team? Why not have a sixth bowling option picking Shardul Thakur? What is the team management’s plan with one dimensional Pandya?
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri likely to dump Hardik Pandya for New Zealand game after embarrassing drubbing by Pakistan
T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya all set to be dumped – Hardik Pandya’s contribution to India vs Pakistan match was disappointing, to say the least. He was given the role of a finisher who would bat at No 6 and go after the bowlers and contribute 30-40 runs while also playing responsible innings when needed as he has not been bowling. But his 11 off 8 and no action in the bowling dealt a heavy blow to India. Furthermore, he hurt his shoulder again to complicate matters for Team India.
While one can have an off day with the bat, it’s his presence as a batsman in the Playing XI that is incomprehensible. With him in the line-up, India missed the sixth bowler who could get breakthroughs especially after Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan settled so well against the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja. India missed the trick as they failed to get a breakthrough — a role that Hardik Pandya was expected to play.
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri likely to dump Hardik Pandya for New Zealand game after embarrassing drubbing by Pakistan
T20 World Cup: Why one-dimensional Hardik Pandya is a liability for Team India?
- What India desperately need is a seam bowler with some batting ability at No 7.
- India is missing the 6th bowler and with Hardik not bowling, the dearth was visible on Sunday against Pakistan.
- Shardul Thakur, who is in great form after the England tour and IPL 2021, is the right candidate to replace Hardik as he can bat too.
- Hardik’s batting form too doesn’t give India any confidence. In IPL 2021, Hardik Pandya scored 121 runs in 12 matches at an average of 14.11. While he did okay in the warm-up match against Australia, he is undergoing a poor run of form and failed to deliver on Sunday.
- If he doesn’t deliver with the bat, he has no contribution to the team. As he suffered a shoulder injury, he was not on the field too.
- Hardik’s presence is creating an imbalance in the team as he is occupying a vital place that can go to a spinner or a 4th seamer depending on conditions.
- R Ashwin with his batting ability could have been an excellent choice but he was overlooked in favour of Hardik.
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri likely to dump Hardik Pandya for New Zealand game after embarrassing drubbing by Pakistan
T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya all set to be dumped – As Virat Kohli confirmed that Hardik Pandya is unlikely to bowl and later the all-rounder confirmed that he will probably return to bowling close to the knockouts, it is likely that Shardul Thakur or Ravichandran Ashwin get the nod in the New Zealand match.
Will Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri take the brave decision and drop Hardik Pandya for New Zealand match? It’s likely but given their lack of flexibility when it comes to Hardik, he could still be trusted, keeping out a match-winner in Shardul Thakur out of the Playing XI.
