'He has to bowl...': Former India selector's big statement about Hardik Pandya
Sarandeep, whose tenure ended with the historic tour of Australia earlier this year, was also surprised that a rare talent like Prithvi Shaw did not even make the standbys for the England tour.
Sarandeep Singh, the former India selector, feels the BCCI has made the right decision by ignoring Hardik Pandya from the 20-member India squad for the tour of England. Sarandeep, who was part of the selection committee until India's tour of Australia earlier this year, agreed with the selectors' call, explaining how Hardik could not have found a place without being used as a bowler.
"The selectors' decision to ignore Hardik for Tests is understandable. He has not been able bowl regularly after his surgery. I feel he has to bowl 10 overs in ODIs and four in T20s to be part of the playing XI even in shorter formats. He can't just play as a batsman," Sarandeep, a former India spinner, told PTI.
Since undergoing a back surgery in September of 2019, Hardik made his comeback into the Indian team during India's tour of Australia last year. He had played the 2020 IPL but hadn't bowled during the tournament. Hardik did roll his arm over in a couple of matches of the limited-overs leg of the Australia tour, but ever since his return, he has been used judiciously and sporadically as a bowler.
Sarandeep reckons Hardik not bowling has an effect on the overall composition of the team, as India have lately struggled in the absence of a sixth bowling option. Besides, the return of Ravindra Jadeja, coupled with the all-rounder skills of Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur can more than make up for Pandya's absence, believes Sarandeep.
Also Read: Bell admits mistake during 'Spirit of Cricket' incident involving Dhoni
"If Hardik doesn't bowl, it disturbs the balance of the side hugely. You have to play an extra bowler because of that and someone like Suryakumar Yadav has to miss out. As we saw in the ODI series against England and Australia, we can't play with five bowling options," Sarandeep said.
"Then team now has other all-rounders in Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Jaddu is back, Shardul Thakur can also be an all-rounder, he has shown that. They all can do the job if Hardik can't bowl."
