Sarandeep Singh Feels Hardik Pandya Can't Play Only As A Batsman Even In Limited-Overs Cricket

Former Indian chief selector Sarandeep Singh doubts Hardik Pandya’s place in the national side if he cannot roll his arms. Hardik Pandya is one of the best all-rounders in limited-overs cricket today and is almost an automatic selection in white-ball format for India. But Sarandeep Singh calls for the 27-year old’s axing if he cannot bowl.

Hardik Pandya could hardly bowl in the ODIs in Australia as captain Virat Kohli introduced him in the attack only when the hosts began running away with the game. Though the 27-year old bowled in the T20Is against England and delivered some match-winning spells and rolled his arms only in the third ODI against the tourists. Pandya’s shoulder issues forced him not to bowl for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 as well.

Sarandeep Singh understands why India ignored Hardik Pandya for the Tests as he has not been able to bowl regularly after the surgery. The 41-year old believes that Hardik cannot bowl only as a batsman in limited-overs cricket either as it disturbs the side’s balance, keeping a talented player like Suryakumar Yadav out of the side. He feels that the likes of Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Jaddu is back, Shardul Thakur can perform Hardik’s role to good effect.

“The selectors’ decision to ignore Hardik for Tests is understandable. He has not been able bowl regularly after his surgery. I feel he has to bowl 10 overs in ODIs and four in T20s to be part of the playing XI even in shorter formats. He can’t just play as a batsman. If Hardik doesn’t bowl, it disturbs the balance of the side hugely. You have to play an extra bowler because of that and someone like Suryakumar Yadav has to miss out. As we saw in the ODI series against England and Australia, we can’t play with five bowling options. Then team now has other all-rounders in Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Jaddu is back, Shardul Thakur can also be an all-rounder, he has shown that. They all can do the job if Hardik can’t bowl,” Singh told PTI.

He has the potential to do what Sehwag did for India: Sarandeep Singh

Sarandeep Singh backs Prithvi Shaw to be like Virender Sehwag for India in Tests and highlighted he scored tons of runs in domestic cricket after being axed from the Australia tour. The Amritsar-born former cricketer said that Shaw rectified his technical flaws and reminded how well he played in the IPL.

“He has the potential to do what Sehwag did for India. You can’t sideline him so early in his career. He has scored tons of runs in domestic cricket after being dropped post Australia tour. He has corrected his technical flaws also and look how he played in the IPL,” he added.

Also Read: Can’t Think Of Getting Into The Indian Side; Those Things Are Not In My Hand: Vijay Shankar