The Indian team management seems desperate to carry at least one pace-bowling all-rounder in the upcoming World Cup. While Hardik Pandya is securing that spot with the time progresses, Vijay Shankar is opening another option. However, the legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has a solution for this.
Since his international debut, Hardik Pandya has gradually proven himself as a top-class pace-bowling all-rounder. Putting aside the injury and controversy, the 25-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder has recently made a brilliant comeback to international cricket. As the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is not far away to begin, Hardik Pandya has a very high chance to feature in the upcoming World Cup.
However, the 28-year-old Vijay Shankar has also suddenly entered in this competition. The pace-bowling all-rounder made his international debut in the last year during the 2018 Nidahas Trophy. He is still very inexperienced as he has played only ten international matches.
Vijay Shankar has earned limited opportunities in his international career. During the recent Wellington ODI against New Zealand, when India was struggling on 18/4, the right-handed batsman played a rescue knock for his team. He had a 98-run partnership with Ambati Rayudu for the fifth wicket and scored 45 runs off 64 balls before getting run-out.
Sunil Gavaskar feels that Vijay Shankar still has the chance to be selected in the World Cup squad. The all-rounder has impressed him with his on-field performances.
Sunil Gavaskar recently told India Today, “Vijay Shankar has a chance for the World Cup. You need an extra seamer in England, he is a good all round fielder too. He showed in the ODI (5th ODI in Wellington) where he got the team out of trouble with the bat. He read the game situation well with his experience of having led in domestic cricket. You build hopes on a player who reads match situations well. He should also be under consideration.”
However, Vijay Shankar still has to prove himself as a pacer as he has picked up only three T20I wickets.
Hardik Pandya as the fourth seamer and Vijay Shankar as an additional option
As India is currently busy in the three-match T20I series against the hosts New Zealand, Sunil Gavaskar feels that the inexperienced all-rounder should play all the matches of the series. The legendary Indian cricketer believes that if India doesn’t find their fourth pacer before the World Cup, Hardik Pandya can take the role of the fourth seamer and Vijay Shankar can be carried as an additional option.
Sunil Gavaskar added, “I think he should be playing all the three T20 games. Give him games after games and you would know if he has what it takes. Because if there is a situation that even after the five ODIs vs Australia, we don’t find a fourth fast bowler we can rely on, than we should be open to having Hardik Pandya as the fourth seamer in the squad and Vijay Shankar as an additional option.”
England and Wales will host the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup from 30 May to 14 July.