Ravi worry after Hardik left out of India
Hardik Pandya’s recent performances, in Ravi Shastri Shastri’s opinion, ought to be sufficient incentive for him to get back to full fitness.
Ravi Shastri expressed concern over Hardik Pandya being left out of India’s ODI squad, emphasizing the importance of his role as an all-rounder. Shastri pointed out that Pandya’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball is crucial for the team’s balance. His exclusion raises questions about his fitness and form, particularly his bowling workload.
“If you’re bowling just 3 overs instead of 10, it affects team strategy and your value as an all-rounder,” Shastri remarked. He highlighted that Pandya’s limited bowling can put extra pressure on other bowlers and disrupt the overall game plan. Shastri stressed the need for Pandya to return to his full bowling capacity to regain his spot in the squad.
Ravi Shastri also underscored the impact of Pandya’s absence on the batting lineup. Known for his explosive hitting, Pandya can change the course of a match in a few overs. His finishing skills are a valuable asset, especially in tight matches.
It was revealed that one of the main reasons Suryakumar Yadav defeated Hardik Pandya to become India’s next Twenty20 international captain was because of doubts about his fitness. Despite his decision to skip the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month for to personal reasons, the selectors are apparently still concerned about his health, particularly in relation to his bowling, especially with the Champions Trophy approaching.
Similar worries were voiced by former India captain Ravi Shastri, who yet feels that Hardik Pandya has the upper hand given his description of his future after being rejected for the T20I captaincy.
Hardik supported Rohit Sharma during India’s drive to victory in the T20 World Cup last month. He was therefore well-positioned to inherit the mantle in the format after the other declared his retirement from Twenty20 internationals after the competition. But earlier this month, the BCCI revealed the Indian team for the current tour of Sri Lanka, and Suryakumar was chosen captain while Hardik was simply mentioned as a player.
The all-rounder even lost his vice-captaincy position in both white-ball forms. Prior to this, he captained India in three ODIs and sixteen T20 matches while Rohit was out of the game.
Speaking to the media last week, BCCI head selector Ajit Agarkar said that India required a captain who could be counted on to be available on a regular basis. Hardik, who has a lengthy history of injuries, was therefore not chosen.
In an interview with The ICC Review published today, Shastri acknowledged his worries regarding Hardik’s bowling fitness but also gave the all-around player insightful guidance on how to bounce back and possibly even make the ODI team for the Champions Trophy the next year.
“I believe it’s crucial for him to keep playing,” Shastri remarked to the host, Sanjana Ganesan. “Match fitness is crucial, in my opinion. So, he ought to participate in as much T20I cricket as possible. Additionally, he naturally joins the team for the one-day game if he feels strong and fit.
On the other hand, bowling becomes significant. The balance of the side suffers if someone arrives and bowls three overs when you need to bowl ten in a single day game. I believe he will play one-day cricket as well if he can bowl eight or ten overs reliably each game and bat like he does.
Hardik left Test cricket in 2018 due to a back ailment. He reached the 2019 ODI World Cup roster after recovering without the need for surgery, but the ailment returned later in the year and necessitated surgery. When he eventually made a comeback in 2021, the Indian team suffered because he was limited to a batsman in the T20 World Cup roster.
Hardik most recently had an ankle injury during India’s fourth match of the ODI World Cup, keeping him out of action until the 2024 Indian Premier League, where he had an unmemorable season leading the Mumbai Indians. However, he recovered magnificently to put up an outstanding all-around performance during the T20 World Cup last month, including the championship game.
where he helped the club break their 11-year ICC trophy drought by dismissing David Miller in the last overs and Heinrich Klaasen, the dangerous batsman.
According to Shastri, Hardik should be sufficiently motivated to return to full fitness based on his recent performances.
Shastri continued, “So I think it’s really up to him, more than anything else.” “No one knows his body like he does. He will undoubtedly be motivated by this, especially given how well he performed at the World Cup and how he timed his performances for both India and the World Cup. He ought to be self-motivated enough to reach the pinnacle of fitness.
