Should India Consider a Specialist Batsman Instead of Hardik Pandya for the Trent Bridge Test?

Before taking the debut cap in Sri Lanka, everyone was eager to see Hardik Pandya in red-ball cricket. Right in his first game, he smashed many debut records to ask analysts compare him to the best in business, Ben Stokes. Now, following the barren run in the Test circuit, the question arises whether he would make it to the Trent Bridge Test or not.

With the overseas tour of South Africa made its way, reaching all the expectations, Pandya delivered the goods right in his first game against the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.

Failed to convert his starts:

But all those happy faces were restricted to only that Test as he never flourished the things with his willow again. Hardik Pandya was fantastic in the limited-overs series but unfortunately, failed to showcase his skills in Tests.

After the conclusion of the Proteas tour, Pandya entered the beautiful England country with a lot of expectations. He flourished his spectacular skills in Twenty20 International and One-day Internationals respectively from time-to-time.

It was in the first game at Edgbaston when Virat Kohli carried a scintillating knock on his back, Pandya has got the decent start of 22 but failed to defend the inswinging yorker from Sam Curran thus leaving the skipper all alone.

Meanwhile, in the second innings, Pandya has got the glorious chance to guide India over the line. With the partners running out, Pandya tried his best but kept his head down to Ben Stokes’ delivery.

Coming to his bowling display, he delivered on the Lords’ wicket with overcast conditions supporting the bowler. At Edgbaston, his bowling never really looked like having that ability to stun the batters.

Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant can be given a chance in place of Hardik Pandya at Trent Bridge:

Meanwhile, the classy Karun Nair, who got a triple-century against the very same opposition in Chennai, is waiting in the wings. On the other side of the coin, the leading run-scorer for India in the domestic circuit, Rishabh Pant looks one of the contenders to replace the promising Baroda-based all-rounder

The attacking approach of Pant might suit English conditions with the ball swinging around. The inclusion of Delhi-based gloveman also brings the left-handed batsman in the side.

The addition of Nair or Pant will also help to tackle the second new ball as well. Meanwhile, Pandya hardly played facing new ball in his career.