England vs India 2018, 2nd Test - Hardik Pandya Defends Team Selection

India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya has put his weight behind team selection for the ongoing second Test match at Lord’s. The visitors went with two spinners on a pitch which offered more assistance to the fast bowlers.

However, Hardik Pandya revealed that India selected their playing XI as they expected the pitch to be like Day 3, which was originally the second day of playing on the pitch. Howsoever, the overcast conditions on Day 2 and Virat Kohli losing the toss, made life difficult for the Indian batsmen.

India’s Team Selection comes under the scrutiny.

Hardik Pandya said while talking in the post-match press conference that they tried to throw everything at the hosts but they didn’t receive any help from the track.

“Nothing happened. That was the problem. As a bowling unit we tried, but all of a sudden the ball stopped swinging. And Woakes and Bairstow took the game away,” Pandya, who took two wickets, told reporters after the day’s play.

India managed a paltry score of 107 in their first innings, which put them behind the eight ball. Hardik Pandya went on to add that any team would have got the same score as they did, as the conditions were totally alienate.

“Any team would have got the same score we got, you know. Playing in that condition, there was a little drizzle, the wicket also got a little wet. Conditions were completely different”.

“When we bowled today, it was the proper wicket. The first day it was different. Today what we got was the actual wicket we expected on the first day. Because of the weather, the wicket changed and it was doing a lot.”

Hardik Pandya also defended team management and Virat Kohli’s call to go with two spinners. The Indian all-rounder admitted the mistake in reading the pitch as he said that they expected a Day 3 like a track. Therefore, had it been a full five-day match, the spinners would have come into the game.

“So, three (pacers) was enough, to be honest. We did enough, we bowled properly. Today’s wicket was the wicket which we expected. It was a proper call. Had this been a five-day game, spinners would have come into play.

“Because of the rain and everything, it shortened (the game) and there were not many footmarks. Had this been a five-day game, it would have been different.”

“Except the first day, we didn’t expect anything else. Only the first day it was something different from what we expected. Today’s wicket was what we expected. That is the only difference.”

India is in arrears by 250 runs and England still have four wickets in hand to add to visitor’s misery. Therefore, the tourists once again have their backs against the wall.

Consequently, a miracle can save India from drawing this Test match – whether it will be Rain or Indian batsmen.