Sanjay Manjrekar, former Indian cricketer turned commentator has said that Hardik Pandya has the capability to play for India as a “pure batsman”. Notably, Hardik Pandya has not been bowling regularly due to a lower back injury he suffered in 2019.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has said that all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has not been bowling regularly due to a lower back injury, has the capability to feature in the playing XI as a “pure batsman” as well.
Sanjay Manjrekar: Hardik Pandya Has The Ability To Walk Into The Team As A Pure Batsman In Limited Over
The 27-year-old is currently in Sri Lanka with India’s limited-overs squad led by Shikhar Dhawan. Eyes will be on Hardik Pandya during the 6 matches which are also being seen as the final chance for many youngsters like Nitish Rana, Chetan Sakariya, and Devdutt Padikkal to push forward their case for selection in India’s T20I World Cup 2021 squad.
Hardik Pandya’s contribution to the team and place in the playing XI has been a topic of debate because of his lack of bowling recently, however, Sanjay Manjrekar feels otherwise.
“Hardik proved himself in Australia that he is perfectly capable of playing in the team as a pure batter, there is no doubt now that he can do that,” Sanjay Manjrekar said during a virtual interaction.
“I am also reading reports that he has started bowling as well. His bowling, all the more-better for India. He has shown that he has the ability to walk into the team as a pure batter in white-ball cricket,” added Sanjay Manjrekar.
The cricketer-turned-commentator also said that the T20 team that India would put up in the upcoming World Cup would be one of the strongest.
“The T20 World Cup squad is almost finalized. India’s T20 cricket is in a very healthy space, so it is not like the 2019 World Cup, where till the end we didn’t find our number four. This T20 team, that India will put up, will be one of the strongest India has ever put up in a T20 format, so I think most of the players are already penciled in.”
After recovering from a career-threatening back injury he suffered in 2019 for which he went back surgery, Hardik Pandya bowled quite impressively and without too much apparent discomfort during the limited-overs series against England. He didn’t bowl in IPL 2020 at UAE and didn’t bowl much in the Australia tour except for one ODI.
Hardik Pandya bowled during an intra-squad game in the Sri Lanka tour. He has bowled sporadically since his back surgery, which has led to his non-selection in Test format.
Ajay Jadeja Backs Future Star Devdutt Padikkal To Open
Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja, who was also part of the interaction, backed young RCB star Devdutt Padikkal to open the innings against Sri Lanka.
“I love Devdutt Padikkal, he is the future, but you have got Prithvi Shaw as well. It all depends on the guys who are running the side at that particular moment. I don’t think it is a choice that Shikhar Dhawan would be making, it will be a choice that the selectors make and of course Rahul Dravid.
“It will show us what Indian cricket is thinking. It is a tough call between all these guys. I would have gone with Padikkal, he is very special,” said Jadeja, adding he was a bit surprised at Dhawan being made the skipper.
Last year in the IPL 2020, Devdutt Padikkal amassed 473 runs from 15 matches, becoming only the second player in the tournament’s history to score over 400 runs in a debut season. Earlier this year, in IPL 2021, Devdutt Padikkal had taken his tally to 195 runs from six matches, including a century.
Prithvi Shaw earned a call-up into the white-ball squad following his excellent form in IPL 2021 (308 runs) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (827 runs).