Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has weighed in on the performance of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, asserting that he needs to rediscover his batting form before the upcoming Asia Cup and the series against Australia, leading up to the ODI World Cup.
During the recent five-match T20I series against the West Indies, Hardik Pandya struggled with the bat, amassing just 77 runs. Parthiv Patel, in a critical assessment, highlighted both Pandya's lackluster batting performance and questioned certain decisions made by the skipper during the matches.
Hardik Pandya still has a long way to go to grow as a captain
Parthiv specifically cited an incident involving Pandya's captaincy and his utilization of bowlers. “Against Nicholas Pooran, he (Hardik Pandya) gave that over to Axar Patel and not bowling Yuzvendra Chahal. Bowling changes and the utilization of the bowlers are something that tells me that Hardik, the captain for India, is still a work in progress,” Parthiv Patel expressed to Cricbuzz.
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Furthermore, Parthiv pointed out Hardik's IPL performance, emphasizing that the cricketer struggled to make impactful contributions with the bat.
“And there is obviously a little concern about his batting. He needs runs. He didn't get runs in the IPL; he didn't get runs in the last couple of series as well. India would want to get some runs for Hardik Pandya in the Asia Cup or the series against Australia before the World Cup,” Parthiv Patel added.
India's performance in the recent T20I series against an inexperienced West Indies side left much to be desired, culminating in a 3-2 series defeat.
While the selection committee has yet to unveil the squads for the Asia Cup and ODI World Cup, it is widely anticipated that Hardik Pandya will secure a spot in both setups for these high-profile ODI events.
Looking ahead, India's journey in the Asia Cup will commence on September 2, marked by a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Subsequently, the Men in Blue are slated to kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia, five-time champions, on October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. As the spotlight intensifies on Pandya's form and the team's preparations, cricket enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the unfolding of these pivotal encounters.
