Hardik Pandya ripped apart, given belt treatment by former Mumbai Indians star for Dhruv Jurel move

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has praised Hardik Pandya for his batting performance in the third T20I of the five-match series against England. However, Ambati Rayudu said that Hardik could have shown a little faith in Dhruv Jurel, recalling how the all-rounder denied him a single to keep the strike.

India faced early trouble in their chase of 172 for a 3-0 series lead against England on Tuesday, January 28. Pandya entered the crease when the team was struggling at 48/3 in the sixth over. He scored only 14 off his first 21 balls on the two-paced surface and accelerated later, but his 40 off 35 balls was not enough.

Hardik Pandya Paced His Innings Well - Ambati Rayudu

Reviewing the game on Star Sports, Ambati Rayudu acknowledged that batting was challenging with wickets falling at the other end, and Hardik paced his innings well. However, Rayudu stated that Hardik could have trusted Dhruv Jurel more during the crucial finishing stages.

"It was a good performance because batting wasn't that easy and wickets were falling from the other end. So he paced his innings well. However, when the finishing touch was required to be given, he could have shown a little faith in Dhruv Jurel," he responded.

Pandya denied Dhruv Jurel a single on the last ball of the 18th over in order to keep the strike. However, it backfired as he was dismissed on the next ball. The Suryakumar-led team suffered a 26-run defeat in the recent T20I match, with the England bowlers maintaining pressure and taking regular wickets.

Hardik Has the Ability to Hit That - Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu stated that the match could have been closer if Hardik had trusted Dhruv Jurel more in the final stages. He pointed out that even with 25 runs needed in the last over, Hardik could have easily hit those runs.

"Even if 25 had been required in the last over, Hardik has the ability to hit that. So I feel if he had shown a little more confidence in Dhruv Jurel, the game might have been closer. However, the way he paced his innings was very heartening," Rayudu observed.

The Wicket Column for Hardik Pandya Remains Empty Very Rarely - Piyush Chawla

In the same discussion, Piyush Chawla said that Hardik Pandya can take wickets, especially early in the innings. Chawla added that Pandya rarely goes wicketless, calling it a very good spell overall.

"He is a wicket-taker. The wicket column for Hardik Pandya remains empty very rarely. If you pick up wickets with the new ball in T20s, and he dismissed Phil Salt, who is a good attacking batter, in his first over, and then he bowled well in the slog overs, I feel it was a very good spell from Hardik Pandya," the veteran spinner replied.

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