IND vs WI: Wasim Jaffer Criticizes Rohit Sharma's Captaincy For His Handling Of Hardik Pandya

Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer has criticized Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for not handling allrounder Hardik Pandya well during the first ODI against West Indies on Thursday (July 27).

India began the three-match ODI series with a five-wicket win over the Caribbean outfit. The Men in Blue thoroughly dominated the contest in Barbados after winning the toss and deciding to bowl first. Riding on spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliant displays with the ball, India bowled out West Indies for just 114 runs in 23 overs.

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Kuldeep picked up four wickets while Jadeja accounted for three wickets. In reply, India chased down the total inside 23 overs. The visitors did lose five wickets but were always in control of the chase. For India, Ishan Kishan top-scored with the bat, scoring 52 off just 46 balls.

But while India won the game, Wasim Jaffer is not really happy with the way Hardik Pandya was handled by Rohit Sharma. The former cricketer has said that the all-rounder should have bowled more than three overs in the game. Pandya opened the bowling for the team and dismissed the dangerous Kyle Mayers for only 2.

“I was little surprised that he [Pandya] only bowled three overs. I would have liked him to bowl five or six overs. I thought he bowled well, only the one over was a little expensive. I was a little surprised that he was taken off. Shardul [Thakur] is not known to bowl with the new ball. Umran Malik’s control with the new ball [is not there] because he is not a consistent ODI player,” he told ESPNcricinfo.

Wasim Jaffer on the importance of giving more overs to Hardik Pandya:

Speaking further, Wasim Jaffer spoke on the importance of giving more overs to Hardik Pandya. He stated that it will allow the team to avail of left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s services as well. Axar failed to find a place in the playing eleven for the first ODI.

“If Pandya is bowling 5-6 over spells, then you can have Axar in the team. If the pitch is spinning, then Axar can come into the side and obviously your batting gets strengthened. Looking at the larger picture, Axar Patel, I see him playing. If he gets more game time under the belt, the pitches are going to spin… So if Hardik Pandya gives you 5-6 overs with the new ball, you can squeeze in Axar Patel,” said Wasim Jaffer.

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