Hardik Pandya will be a star attraction for India during the limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka in the squad comprising of many youngsters who are yet to debut. The destructive all-rounder has been in and out of the Indian set-up due to multiple back problems since 2018-19 and will be hoping to contribute with the bat and ball in the island nation.
Despite being one of the few players in the squad who had represented India in all formats, he was not considered for the role of captain for the tour which surprised his childhood coach Jitendra Singh who shared his views on the issue and also on Hardik Pandya’s prowess with the bat, his potential as a Test batsman, and his future goals.
Hardik Pandya Could Have Been A Good Investment As Captain For The White Ball Format: Jitendra Singh
Hardik Pandya– the Test batsman has scored 532 runs in 11 Tests (18 innings) at an average of 31.29 with one hundred and 4 fifties. One of his finest Test innings, albeit in a losing cause, came against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018, when batting at number 7 position, he blasted 93 off just 95 deliveries when almost every batsman had failed. The knock showcased Hardik Pandya’s prowess as a dangerous lower-order Test batsman who could mix caution with planned aggression.
“He can contribute. He has got the technique and temperament and maturity and if he gets an opportunity he can prove himself. The conditions don’t matter for him as his technique is sound and simple,” quoted Jitendra.
Jitendra Singh however was very disappointed that the management did not consider Hardik Pandya’s name to lead the side in Sri Lanka. He is one of the few players in the relatively inexperienced squad who has represented India in all three formats and is someone who is seen as a long-term investment for the country.
“Definitely, I was. He could have been a great option as he can play for five to seven years. He has got new thoughts and has a lot of energy. He could have been a good investment (in captaincy) especially for the white ball format.”
Hardik Pandya has played 60 ODIs and 48 T20Is apart from the 11 Tests. He has scored 1267 ODI and 474 T20I runs averaging 34.24 and 19.75 respectively. He has also picked 55 ODI and 41 T20I scalps.
Jitendra Singh Wants Hardik Pandya To Perform More As An All-Rounder
Jitendra Singh believed that stardom had not changed the core of Hardik Pandya as a player or person.
“No, he hasn’t at all. He remains the same Under-16 boy from the club days. To be honest, of late, he has taught me a lot of things because of his exposure and interactions with a lot of players and coaches who are active in international cricket. If you are a good human being, you will be a good cricketer as well. Cricket is a byproduct of your personality,” said Jitendra.
On what were his expectations from Hardik Pandya, Jitendra Singh stated that he wanted to see more of the all-rounder in international cricket.
“I want him to perform more as an all-rounder. If his alignment and bowling action is better, he will definitely be. He is very serious regarding his bowling.”
A big hitter and a fast-bowling all-rounder, Hardik Pandya ticks all the boxes that a team desires from an all-rounder. It was no surprise that he was fast-tracked into the Indian ODI and T20 side after a successful run for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2015. He scored 281 runs in IPL 2020 averaging 35.12 but had a poor run in IPL 2021 managing only 52 runs in 7 games averaging a dismal 8.66 but will look to make amends when IPL 2021 resumes in the UAE.