Ravi Shastri’s gives a warning to star Indian player
Ravi Shastri-Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli (Image Source: BCCI)
The Indian star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya is all set to make a comeback to the Indian team from the series against South Africa. He has earned the national call-up on the back of his stellar performance in the Indian T20 League 2022. Coming back from injury Pandya looked in great touch with the bat and also in decent rhythm with the ball in hand.
The former Indian coach, Ravi Shastri has spoken up about how India should utilize the star all-rounder. He has opined that India should not risk the exhaustion of Pandya by playing him in ODIs. Shastri’s advice for the Indian team is to cash in on the form Pandya is enjoying in the shortest format of the game.
During a conversation in Star Sports’ program game plan, Shastri stated- “He will walk back into that squad for me either as a batter or as an all-rounder. I don’t think he is that badly injured where he cannot bowl you two overs. He has had ample rest and he will continue to have ample rest because that’s the only format he should play going into the World Cup. They shouldn’t take the risk of making him play ODI cricket.”
Pandya enjoyed a pleasant batting form in the recently concluded Indian T20 League season. He scored 487 runs in the tournament in 15 innings. Pandya also picked up 8 wickets in those matches and played important roles in the crucial stages of a game.
Shastri considers Pandya as a huge asset for the Indian team but also stated that they should not overuse him. “Massive, he does the job for two players. A Hardik Pandya playing just as a batter would mean he has to bat in the top four or five but Hardik Pandya playing as an all-rounder, he can bat at five, six, or four and still bowl those two-three overs for you,”- Shastri added.
