Cricket expert Aakash Chopra reckons Hardik Pandya needs to start bowling to give balance to the Indian team. Pandya hasn’t bowled at full tilt after undergoing back surgery in 2020.
The all-rounder also didn’t bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians in the first phase of IPL 2021.
Furthermore, the all-rounder was also not picked for the tour of England. Pandya had earlier revealed that he wants to concentrate on limited overs format and his body is not ready for the difficulties of Test cricket. The all-rounder from Baroda was deeply missed in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand as the seam bowling all-rounder is always useful in English conditions.
Pandya is currently with the national team on the tour of Sri Lanka. It is reported that Pandya will bowl in the upcoming series against the Island nation. Furthermore, if Pandya bowls his quota of overs in the upcoming T20 World Cup, it will bring great balance to the team.
“You were looking at him for Test cricket but he is not available for you there as well because he is not bowling. When you look at it from that vantage point, there is only one player like Hardik Pandya, he provides balance. Hardik Pandya as a fast-bowling all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja as a spinning all-rounder and Washington Sundar with them, it becomes a superb team,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“Six to eight (overs) and bowls his full quota in T20s, full overs in the IPL and then definitely in the World Cup because Hardik Pandya bowling makes it easier for India to get the right balance,” he added.
Pandya can provide the finishing touches with his blistering batting and he can bring the right balance to the playing XI if he bowls his full quota of overs in the T20I format.
The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka will be played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on 13th July.
