Now, That Hardik Pandya Is Bowling, Don't Think There Is Any Competition For Him - Rajkumar Sharma
Former Delhi cricketer Rajkumar Sharma always believed that Hardik Pandya was India’s best all-rounder and now that he is back to full fitness and is capable of bowling, his spot in the Indian team is cemented.
Hardik slowly lost his footing in the national team after being unable to bowl. He couldn’t get into the team as a specialist batter so he set out to get back to match fitness.
The Baroda all-rounder made a comeback in the IPL 2022 season where he top-scored for his side, Gujarat Titans. He then deservedly got the call-up to the Indian team for the 5-match T20I series against South Africa.
“I feel Hardik Pandya will get the first nod as a finisher because his performance has been fantastic. And I believe right from the start that Hardik Pandya is the No. 1 all-rounder. He was not bowling because of injury, then also I had even said that he can play purely as a finisher in the XI.”
“Now that he is bowling, I don’t think there is any competition for him, he is a single-handed match-winner and is a player who can win India the match from any situation. So, I feel he should be given the full chance and the full confidence should be shown in him by the selectors, captain and the team management,” he mentioned on India News.
“I don’t think he will be asked to bat at No. 4” – Rajkumar Sharma
Rajkumar also observed that Hardik is likely to bat as a finisher and not at No. 4, something he did for GT. The 28-year-old has also indicated that he loves batting higher up the order but it’s unlikely to happen with respect to the national team.
“Hardik Pandya has batted exceptionally well in the IPL and the way he took the responsibility, it was fantastic. He was the captain there but here he is not the captain.”
“So a role will be defined for him here whereas he used to himself initiate it there. I don’t think he will be asked to bat at No. 4. I feel his role will be that of a finisher in the Indian team,” Rajkumar added.
