Roger Binny hints contribution with ball has kept Hardik Pandya in the fold

Stylish Hardik Pandya has a lot to prove – to set-up himself as the terrific all-rounder. However, on the other side, the former Indian cricketer Roger Binny made a testimonial regarding the promising youngster.

Moreover, the time is bound to decide whether Pandya would do justice to his all-round ability or not in a nutshell.

The seam-bowling, however, proved to be worthy for Pandya to feature in the playing XI. Binny reiterated the major contribution with the ball had kept the medium-pacer in the hunt.

“He’s lucky to get viewed as an allrounder. He doesn’t contribute with the bat. He is chipping in with the ball, and that’s why he’s been able to keep his place in the team,” Binny was quoted as saying by ToI.

In the ongoing bilateral series against South Africa, Pandya had a roller-coaster ride. The mixed blend during the grueling tour saw Pandya struggling with the bat.

Roger Binny takes a dig at Pandya:

Owing to the dismal show, Pandya found it difficult. He scored 119 runs in the three-match Test series in the Rainbow Nation.

“Pandya hasn’t scored runs in first-class cricket before playing at the top level. He has got into the Test team based on his exploits in T20 cricket. Limited-overs cricket is a different ball game altogether – you can get runs in those formats because the field is spread out,” Binny remarked.

The 24-year-old Pandya managed to collect just 26 runs and at an abysmal average of 8.66 in the ODI leg. But the former Indian gloveman Kiran More has backed his ward for 93-run innings in Cape Town Test.

More mentored Pandya back in the domestic circuit in Baroda. Interestingly, More was the teammate of veteran all-rounder Binny in the national fold.

“If you talk about the Tests, how many batsmen got even a fifty there? That 93 of his was like scoring a 150,” More stated.

So much so, Binny believes, Pandya must not be compared with legendary all-rounder Kapil Devil while making one of the bold statements.

“As a batsman, he’s no patch on Kapil Dev. Kapil got hundreds in first-class cricket before he broke into India’s Test side,” Binny observed.

Binny made it clear by saying; Pandya has to play for the state-state while coming at the top of the order.

Versatile cricketer of his time, Binny added Pandya might find it difficult to survive long in the longest format if he doesn’t perform on the consistent basis.

“He has to bat up the order in first-class for Baroda and score runs there, otherwise it’ll be difficult for him to settle in and perform in Test cricket. I don’t think he’ll be able to play much of domestic cricket though,” Binny added.

India’s Proteas tour will culminate following the third and final Twenty20 International on February 24 in Cape Town. Pandya, however, he has gone silent with the bat after taking on the Proteas bowlers at Newlands during the first Test.

After scoring at the average of 19.83 in the three-match Test series, Pandya couldn’t click in the six-match series with the bat.

The Baroda-based cricketer was criticized for his dismal show before performing some acrobatics on the field during the 5-1 win in the 50-over format.

“He’s trying to hit everything from ball one, which is impossible. He tries to play too many strokes and doesn’t look to settle down,” Binny concludes.

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