Wasim Jaffer wants Hardik Pandya to note weak points in his batting and improve them ahead of ODI World Cup 2023
Hardik Pandya (source: Twitter)
India’s former batsman Wasim Jaffer made some noteworthy observations about the current T20I captain Hardik Pandya’s form in the game. The Indian cricket team recently lost their T20I series against West Indies after a decade after winning the Test and ODI series. India finished the T20 series with a score of 3-2 under the leadership of Hardik Pandya. Notably, Hardik Pandya has been lacking form in the shortest format of the sport since the Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. As observed by Wasim Jaffer, Hardik Pandya seemed to be a little rusty as he failed to put runs on the board and managed an average of around a hundred throughout the five-match T20I series.
The middle-order batsman Hardik Pandya’s lack of runs ultimately pushed the pressure towards the inexperienced lower batting order of the team, which mostly comprises bowlers. During an exclusive chat with ESPNcricinfo, Wasim Jaffer urged Hardik Pandya to note down the weak points in his batting and improve them ahead of the marquee tournaments.
Wasim Jaffer on Hardik Pandya’s poor performance against West Indies
“Well, it has been a concern. He looks a little rusty. We can’t say that the free-flowing Hardik Pandya comes in and strikes it sweetly. Doesn’t mean hitting sixes but striking it nicely, rotating the strike. Apart from the fifty he scored in the 3rd ODI, where also he started very very slowly, and picked it up in the slog overs. But even then he looked a little rusty,” Wasim Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo.
“That’s a concern for me. Looking at how Hardik Pandya batted in the series, that was a big concern. Not every time he is going to start slowly, and he is going to finish strongly. We could see this during this series as well,” said Wasim Jaffer.
“As soon as he comes, the momentum drops down, the strike rate comes down and puts the pressure on the other guys and the dugout as well. Something for him to worry, take note and improve,” added Wasim Jaffer.
