All-rounder Hardik Pandya is an important member of the Indian set-up, now more so than ever.
Having a quality seam-bowling all-rounder in the team is critical and with Pandya recovering from a back injury, the Indian contingent is realising just how important he is to the team’s balance.
When India played the West Indies at home in the ODI and T20 series, familiarity of conditions and the performance of spinners meant Pandya wasn’t missed as much. Also, India’s batting went from strength to strength against the Windies as the limited overs series wore on, which helped the Men in Blue stay on top.
But the first two T20s in Australia have shown that Pandya is crucial to the limited overs fortunes of the team. In the first two matches, India went in with Pandya’s brother Krunal as the all-rounder, along with three seamers and one wrist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav.
Virat Kohli simply could not go in with five full-time bowlers and that meant having a finger-spinner like Krunal for some extra batting lower down the order at the expense of the wicket-taking ability of leggie Yuzvendra Chahal.
This problem will continue as long as Pandya is injured. India will need three seamers in T20s and ODIs, which means they can confidently pick only one wrist spinner.
If Pandya was fit, young left-arm quick Khaleel Ahmed would have made way for Chahal and India would have three quick bowling options, two wrist spinners plus a proven batsman like Pandya. Any other combination isn’t worth considering as the entire season is away from India leading up to the 2019 World Cup in England.
Pandya recently said he is looking to get fit by the time the ODI series against Australia begins in January after the four-Test series.
“I’m trying hard to be fit for the ODI series against Australia to start in January,” Pandya was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
“To get back to full fitness, I’m going through rigorous bowling sessions in Mumbai. I have just started bowling after 60 days. Once I bowl a few overs in the ODIs, I should be on the right track.”
Needless to say, the Indian team management can’t wait for January to arrive.