IND vs IRE: Wasim Jaffer Hits Out At Hardik Pandya After Loss To West Indies In The 5th T20I Match, Says 'This Can't Be The Template'

Hardik Pandya-led Team India lost the fifth and final match of the T20I series against West Indies by eight wickets failing to clinch a five-match T20I series win for the first time in their history.

India skipper, Hardik Pandya won the toss and went to bat first and gave a target of 166 runs as Suryakumar Yadav’s 61-run knock from 45 balls led the Men in Blues in the first inning.

In the second inning, West Indies excelled in the run chase as they ended the game in the 18th over. India’s bowling attack showcased a poor performance and managed to take only two wickets which helped the Caribbean batsmen to take the opportunity.

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Only Arshdeep Singh and Tilak Varma took wickets in the second inning. Hardik Pandya, the T20I skipper delivered three overs and gave away 32 runs.

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Wasim Jaffer, the former Indian batsman said that the Men in Blues focus more on the youngsters so that they can lead the team in the 20-over format.

The former India player also said that players Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Arshdeep Singh, and others are the future of the team.

Jaffer pointed out that many top-order batsmen are failing to make runs and the pressure is falling on the number seven batsman, where Hardik Pandya comes to bat.

“The bulk of the [T20 World Cup] team will be from this XV. You need to look at the youngsters to take you forward in this format. So players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh, they are the future. But there are some gaps you need to fill. The major concern is the batting finishing at No. 7. Quite a few of the top order are not getting a start and not converting it and quite a bit of that boils down to them feeling there’s nobody to bat after No. 7 so they have to bat the bulk of the overs and when you go with that mindset, it doesn’t help,” Jaffer said.

The batting needs to come till No. 8: Wasim Jaffer on Hardik Pandya’s Team India

Wasim Jaffer further added that in the next 10 months, the Men in Blues will be taking part in the T20 World Cup and this can’t be the template. He further added that bowlers need to correct their batting ability.

“Within 10 months’ time, India will be playing the World Cup. This can’t be the template. The batting needs to come till No. 8, possibly No. 9, somebody who can tonk the ball. And obviously the bowlers, they need to start getting their batting a little bit better. At least their six-hitting or four-hitting ability. We need to look at guys who can bat and bowl. Shivam Dube comes to my mind. Venkatesh Iyer, Washington Sundar, those are the guys that come to mind and we need to groom them,” Wasim Jaffer added.

The Men in Blues will now focus on the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are yet to announce the ODI squad for coming tournaments, but it is expected that they will reveal it by Friday (August 18).