Question marks are constantly raised over Hardik Pandya’s role in the Test team. Primarily drafted into the side as a bowling all-rounder, it seems like the team is relying more on his batting exploits.
In the first Test against England in Birmingham, the 24-year-old was made to bowl just 10 overs in total. India bowling coach Bharat Arun, addressing the media following an intense practice session at Lord’s on Tuesday, echoed the views of Virat Kohli, saying the Baroda cricketer has great potential and one needs to be patient with him.
“He’s technically pretty good and is of great potential for us. The less Hardik bowled it augurs well for the team because it means other bowlers have done very well. I’m not taking any credit from Hardik. But Hardik did an exceptionally good job for us in South Africa and I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t come to the part here,” said Arun.
Indian batsmen, barring Kohli, struggled to cope with the swing and seam of England pacers. When asked if the management considered playing an extra batsmen in place of Pandya, Arun felt such a move would be a negative one. “Playing an extra batsman here, I would consider it as a conservative move. I think everything depends on the conditions and if the conditions are not going to be as friendly as it was in the first Test, it makes more sense to play five bowlers.”
“Batsmen on both sides found it difficult (in the first Test). If you look at the scores, it's only Virat Kohli and Joe Root who were able to contend with the moving ball. The conditions were trying. I'm sure the challenge is there for us to adapt even better and we have our plans in place (for the second Test).”
