Asia Cup 2023: "Hardik Pandya Needs To Score Runs In Asia Cup Before World Cup"- Parthiv Patel

Former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was critical of Hardik Pandya’s captaincy in the recently concluded T20I series against West Indies. India lost the series 3-2 to lose a bilateral series for the first time against West Indies since 2006.

Hardik Pandya led the team without the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli unavailable for the series. Hardik Pandya’s overall captaincy and his batting were both criticized. The Indian skipper managed to score just 77 runs in the five-match series and picked up four wickets.

The Indian all-rounder will not play the T20I series against Ireland and will make a comeback in the Asia Cup along with the other senior players. Parthiv Patel in a discussion with Cricbuzz after the fifth T20I said that Hardik’s decision-making in terms of bowling changes and as well as the utilization of the bowlers, indicates that he is still evolving as a captain.

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Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy Is A Work In Progress: Parthiv Patel

“Against Nicholas Pooran, he (Hardik Pandya) gave that over to Axar Patel and not bowling Yuzvendra Chahal. Bowling changes and the utilisation of the bowlers are something that tells me that Hardik, the captain for India, is still a work in progress” Parthiv said to Cricbuzz.

The former keeper further pointed out that the Indian T20I skipper needs to score some runs in the Asia Cup heading into the T20 World Cup. Hardik scored 14 off 18 balls batting at number six in the series-deciding fifth T20I and was criticized heavily for the same.

“There is obviously a little concern about his batting. He needs runs. He didn’t get runs in the IPL, he didn’t get runs in the last couple of series as well. India would want to get some runs for Hardik Pandya in the Asia Cup or the series against Australia before the World Cup,” Parthiv Patel further told Cricbuzz.

Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder continues to be a massive cog in the Indian middle-order and Parthiv said that his form with both bat and ball will be crucial if India is to win the Asia Cup and World Cup.