Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has warned Team India about all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He said that Pandya should play only T20 cricket for the next few months before the T20 World Cup to be held later this year. After captaining Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Pandya recently returned to the national team for the T20I series against South Africa.
In IPL 2022, Pandya scored 487 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.27, with four half-centuries to his name. Apart from this, he took eight wickets. He took three wickets in the final against Rajasthan Royals (RR). He also bowled at a speed of over 140. Shastri said that Pandya should get enough rest before the T20 tournament in Australia and his fitness needs to be taken care of.
Shastri, who was part of India’s 1983 World Cup winning team, said Hardik has acquired enough fitness to bowl a couple of overs in every match. He said in the Star Sports show Game Plan, “He will come back for me as a batsman or as an all-rounder. I don’t think he is injured so badly where he can’t bowl two overs to you. He has got enough rest and will continue to get enough rest. This is the only format he should play till the World Cup. They shouldn’t take the risk of him playing ODI cricket.
Shastri further added, “By large, he does the work of two players. To play Hardik Pandya as a batsman would mean he has to bat in the top four or five, but if he plays as an all-rounder he can bat at five, six or four and for you two-three. Can throw overs. Hardik’s bowling and batting gives strength to the Indian team. Hardik is a better cricketer when he does both. So you want to see him fit till the World Cup, there are good signs in the IPL.
Shastri finally said that Hardik can also bat at number 4 for Team India if needed. “Why am I saying that he can be in the top four, because if a top player gets hurt, he can fit in there. They have experience. He has the ability to understand the game in that situation. So I think he has become an important player now.