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Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to the national set-up after six months in the India vs South Africa T20I series at home. In the five matches against the Proteas, Hardik Pandya ended as the third leading run-scorer after amassing 117 runs in four innings at a highly impressive average of 58.50. But Hardik Pandya failed to get going with the ball and failed to pick any wickets in the just-concluded series. The Gujarat Titans (GT) captain arrived in the series against the Temba Bavuma-led side on the back of a brilliant bowling display against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League final last month. Hardik Pandya starred with the ball for GT, sending three RR batters back to the pavilion in his four overs. Pandya junior's performance with the ball led Gujarat Titans to a maiden IPL title in their debut season. But Hardik Pandya failed to produce similar bowling acts against South Africa and ended up conceding 61 runs in the five overs he bowled during the series. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has now cast doubts about his utility as a bowler. While Aakash Chopra was impressed with Hardik Pandya's batting, the 28-year-old cricketer's bowling was nowhere near the international standards against the African team.
“Hardik Pandya, the bowler, hasn't really arrived yet. We all feel that Hardik is going to bring balance, but as of now, we have not seen that. We have just seen the trailer and not the picture. Have we actually seen enough? We haven't, so let's wait for that,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“But batting, he scored 117 runs at a strike rate of 154. Once again, like Dinesh Karthik, he is the only guy who can bat at that number. Who else do you have? Rishabh Pant is struggling at the top itself. There is no talk of going down the order. He (Hardik) did not score a fifty, but you don't get a fifty at that number,” Aakash Chopra added.
Hardik Pandya, however, received rich plaudits for his leadership skills from another India opener Wasim Jaffer who declared that he should captain the national team whenever regular skipper Rohit Sharma isn't available. Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant led the Indian cricket in the absence of Rohit Sharma who was rested for the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa.
“If Rohit is playing then there is no question of Pant leading. I would have Hardik Pandya second in line. Those will be my two main guys going forward. If at all I need to make somebody captain, I would go to Hardik if Rohit is not there. Going forward DK is going to be your first choice. When Virat comes back, Surya comes back, Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja, I think Rishabh Pant will find it hard to find a place in the XI,” Wasim Jaffer said in a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.
“It all depends on what management thinks. If they want to give him confidence, then they will probably find a place. But I think in an ideal world it will be hard to find a place with Rohit, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, DK. Those will be your first seven I feel. But if they want to continue with him. I don't know who goes out,” Wasim Jaffer insisted.
Meanwhile, India's head coach Rahul Dravid described Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik as one of the best finishers in the world now and backed them to deliver for the Men in Blue during the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
“He (Dinesh Karthik) and Hardik [Pandya] batted beautifully for us; both of them are our enforcers at the end, guys who can capitalise on those last five-six overs,” Rahul Dravid said.
“They are probably two of the best in the world in those last five-six overs. So, yeah, it was really nice to see Karthik come off and do what he has been picked to do. It certainly opens up a lot more options for us going forward. Innings like that certainly make you start. Like I was telling the guys it's not about knocking the door – you have to start banging the door down, and an innings like that certainly means he is knocking very hard,” Dravid signed off.
Hardik Pandya will now embark on the tour of Ireland where he's set to captain the Indian team for the time in his career. India will play two T20I matches there starting with the first game in Dublin on 26 June.
After these two matches in Ireland, Hardik Pandya and the other limited-overs specialists will arrive in the United Kingdom where they will take on world champions England in a three-match ODI series and an equal number of T20I games.
