MSK Prasad Defends Hardik Pandya, Urges Him To Be More Consistent

Chief selector MSK Prasad has admitted Hardik Pandya needs to be consistent with both bat and ball after the allrounder’s inconsistent show in recent months.

Before being dropped for the last Test against England, Hardik Pandya played each of the Test India played overseas this year. He, however, did little to justify the faith shown in him. In four Tests in England, Pandya scored 164 at 23.42, including one half-century. With the ball, he picked up 10 wickets at 24.70, including a five-wicket haul. Both the fifty and the five-for came in the same Test, in India’s victory at Trent Bridge. So, it pretty much makes it clear that his contributions in the other three Tests were below par.

Overall this year, in 12 innings in South Africa and England, he has picked up 14 wickets. As far as his batting is concerned, barring the fifty in Cape Town and Trent Bridge, he has nothing more to show. His inconsistent display has unsurprisingly attracted widespread criticism.

And MSK Prasad has now admitted that Pandya needs to perform consistently. At the same time, the former India wicketkeeper defended Pandya by pointing out his few achievements in Tests.

”Hardik Pandya is an all rounder in the making. He scored a century against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. He batted well against South Africa in the Cape Town Test and performed well both with bat and ball against England in Nottingham. This clearly shows that he can perform in all conditions,” Prasad told PTI.

”Only thing we expect from him is more consistency with both bat & ball. I am sure this tour would have been a big learning experience in his career. He will be a better player with the experience he has gained from this tour,” he added.

Meanwhile, the team-management’s reluctance to not drop Pandya has raised several eyebrows. When asked about it, Prasad said:

”I feel it is not appropriate to say that a player will be given only particular number of opportunities to establish. A good player understands the dynamics & demands of International cricket and quickly adapt to it.

”I always keep saying that time and again that as a selector we only select the players and it’s up to the players to make use of the opportunities,” he added.

Pandya will next play in the ongoing Asia Cup where India start their campaign on September 18 against Hong Kong.