no one knows Hardik Pandya have seen popular Shahrukh Khan The film from the 1990s, ‘Kabhi Ya Kabhi Na’, but his career graph, when it comes to bowling and fitness, can certainly be summarized in that one line.
Due to a back injury that required major surgery, Pandya has not bowled during the last two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons. In between, he enjoyed a scintillating white-ball tour of Australia and bowled well in all five T20Is against England. He also bowled sporadically during India’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.
The Indian team has decided to play him at No 7 as a specialist batsman. But batting back in the first match against Pakistan Ravindra JadejaPandya scored 11 runs in eight balls and suffered a shoulder injury. Of course, he didn’t even bowl.
In the latest twist of his story, he seems to have regained fitness and bowled and batted at a practice session in Dubai on Wednesday. Key decision-makers in Indian cricket, however, have left everyone confused about Pandya’s utility to the team: is the 28-year-old a specialist batsman, a bowler, or a bit of both?
Chief selector Chetan Sharma had earlier picked him as an all-rounder, insisting that Pandya would have to bowl his four overs. Later, when he did not continue to bowl in the IPL, he was dubbed as the No. 6 specialist by the captain. Virat Kohli.
While Pandya was in terrific form in IPL 2020, his form fell this season: Pandya was badly out of touch, managing just 127 runs in 12 matches. “The truth is the selectors wanted to send him back to India after he didn’t bowl in the IPL, but M S Dhoni (The appointed Team India mentor) confirmed his finishing skills,” a source told TOI.
If he plays a match-winning knock in India’s second group game against New Zealand on Sunday, Pandya ‘finisher’ will reaffirm faith in Dhoni’s abilities. A failure, however, would make a strong case for the likes of Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Venkatesh Iyer to replace him. All three have emerged as good all-round options.
Two former chief selectors of India, whom TOI spoke to, Pandya had different views on the issue. Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar felt that “in this case all the decision makers, captain, coach, physio and selectors would have assessed the situation regarding Pandya”.
Another former player and selector Sandeep Patil, however, said he wanted the Chetan Sharma-led national selection committee to be more accountable on the issue. “His selection in the XI is up to the captain and the coach, and only BCCI will know about it. But basically, if a player is not fit, it comes down to the selectors. If he doesn’t bowl perfectly. IPL, the selectors should have decided. They should have asked him for a fitness test before he is included in the squad for the World Cup.”
“As per ICC rules, if he was unfit, he could have been replaced. Regarding Hardik, my question is not only to the captain and the coach, but to the selectors as well. The fitness aspect is handled by the selectors and the team physio. From my experience as a selector, the BCCI secretary hands over a list of fit and available players.
“Someone has to be accountable. There is no comment from (India’s coach). Ravi Shastri. Rohit Sharma And Ajinkya Rahane said he was fit. How can you tell that he is fit, if he goes unfit during the match? I mean, it’s a World Cup, not just a series or a match.”
“The guy hasn’t bowled a single ball in the IPL, and you suddenly expose him in the World Cup? And how are you playing him? He was sent behind Jadeja. So really a big one around Pandya. There is a question mark. Someone, for example, like Dwayne Bravo, was bowling in all T20 leagues. He is fit. While bowling, if he gets hammered it is a different issue,” Patil said.
“The whole secret of his fitness has been going on for the last six months. Now you are saying he has a shoulder injury. In the bargain, you are not giving a fit guy a chance. You are playing an unfit person who is part of the team. It’s not right. Because of that, you are neglecting other fit people who are performing well.
“Is he so important that he alone will win you a game for your team? In the days before, we used to play with half-fit guys, and we were lucky (that it worked). If Sunil Gavaskar Half was fit, you will definitely choose him. However, these days are gone. There’s a lot of focus on fitness.”
Patil said, “In the last one year, Pandya has not done (well) as an all-rounder. One year is a good period for those who matter to judge a player.”
Salil Ankola, former India fast bowler and current chief selector of Mumbai, said, “If Pandya is not bowling, there is no way for him to fit into the team. I am not saying this because I am from Mumbai, But anyone who knows even a little bit. Cricket will pick Shardul over Pandya right now. How much does Shardul have to prove himself now? He has proved himself whenever he is given a chance. If you are an all-rounder at No. 6. If you want, Shardul is your man. He will find a place in any team in the world right now, however, if you want a batsman in that position, Shreyas IyerThe one who has proved himself like Shardul also deserves a chance,” says Ankola.
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