IND vs PAK: "Hardik Pandya Is An Impact Player"- Tom Moody Opens Up On India All-Rounder Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) winning coach Tom Moody opened up on Hardik Pandya and said that the 29-year-old is an impact player and one can send him up in the batting order to increase the pace of a game.

Hardik Pandya led the Men in Blue in the five-match T20I series against West Indies and faced a lot of criticism after India lost the series by 3-2.

While speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Tom Moody said that a team should have an open mind when they are playing white-ball cricket. Moody further added that changes can happen in the batting lineup when the match is happening.

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“Well, I think in this day and age, whether it be 50-over cricket or 20-over cricket, you need to have an open mind. You need to be flexible, and we talk a lot about match-ups. At times, we talk too much about match-ups in the media, so I think that is where I think Rohit Sharma is coming from. You know, there may be a case where you might have a left-hander that is due to come out at number 6, then suddenly the opposition brings out a left-arm spinner or a leg spinner. So, therefore, that number 6 is going to be the next person to come into bat,” Tom Moody said.

There may be a time you need to throw him up the order: Tom Moody on Hardik Pandya

Tom Moody added that there can be tactical changes when a game is taking place and one should keep an open mind about it and that a team must have stability and clarity.

“Now, the thing that is really important from a team’s point of view, you have that flexibility and open mind, and I think that is what he was trying to articulate to the media there. Yes, there will be flexibility, but there are a couple of places that may not be moving because really the foundation of your innings needs to be concrete, you need stability there and role clarity there.

“But, you know, Hardik Pandya is an impact player. There may be a time you need to throw him up the order just to get the innings moving quicker than what it has been moving. So, all those tactical nuances, you need to have an open mind too,” Tom Moody added.

Hardik Pandya has been included in the 17-man Asia Cup 2023 squad and will be the vice-captain of the Men in Blue. India will start their Asia Cup 2023 journey against Pakistan on Saturday (September 2nd) at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.