Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman is very happy with the Indian newcomers’ performances in the recent international matches. He feels that it has proven India’s strength in the international arena.
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India dominated in the recently concluded T20I series against Windies. In that three-match series, India whitewashed (3-0) the World T20 champions and the newcomers have shined in those matches. The fast-bowler Navdeep Saini, the all-rounder Krunal Pandya and the pacer Deepak Chahar won the Player of the Match awards in those three matches respectively. Moreover, Krunal Pandya also won the Player of the Series award. Out of them, Saini made his international debut during that series.
The former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman feels that it is the very good sign for India’s future in international cricket.
In his recent column for the TOI, Laxman wrote, “The man of the match awards went to Navdeep Saini, Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar, which is testament to the Indian system that prepares players for the rigours and challenges of the international arena. Most hearteningly, these players believed in themselves and played to their strengths.”
I would love to see Krunal Pandya get more opportunities in 50-over cricket – VVS Laxman
Laxman praised these three cricketers by mentioning their specialities. The 28-year-old Krunal Pandya has impressed him with his all-round performances. Laxman believes that the older Pandya has a great future in ODI cricket too.
He added, “Saini is an express pace bowler, and that’s exactly how he bowled. Chahar’s success in the third game was built around swing. The older Pandya is street-smart and canny, capable of thinking on his feet. I would love to see him get more opportunities in 50-over cricket too because I believe he can slot in at the No. 6 position and can offer a full complement of 10 overs.”
VVS Laxman feels that this is the crucial time to build up a strong Indian team. After the newcomers have shown their great potential in the early period, Laxman now wants to see their growth and consistency.
Laxman wrote, “It’s not fair or wise to rely only on Jasprit Bumrah or Bhuvneshwar Kumar to do the job all the time. What this series has proved is that India have other weapons in their arsenal. But these players need to play more games so that they grow into their roles, become comfortable and therefore attain the consistency that they are capable of.”
The other youngster who deserves plaudits is Rishabh Pant
The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has also impressed Laxman. After failing the first two matches in the T20I series, Pant made a brilliant comeback in the final T20I. While he scored 0 and 4 runs in the first T20Is, the left-handed batsman played a responsible match-winning knock of unbeaten 65 runs.
Laxman claimed, “The other youngster who deserves plaudits is Rishabh Pant. You expect Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to score runs, but Pant learnt from his mistakes and came up with a mature knock in the final encounter. That’s what you want to see in youngsters – the willingness to learn and the desire to improve and the hunger to perform.”
The Indian national cricket team is now busy in the three-match ODI series against the host Windies. Rishabh Pant and Navdeep Saini both are in this ODI squad.
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After this ODI series, India will play a two-match Test series against Windies in this tour. It will be the opening series for both teams in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship competition (2019-21).