'No other player like Hardik Pandya': Ex-batting coach says he unlocks India's best combination

NEW DELHI: India's agelong build-up to their T20 World Cup rubric defence volition get its astir important boost this week, and erstwhile batting manager Sanjay Bangar believes the instrumentality of Hardik Pandya could reshape India's full blueprint. Calling Pandya a one-of-a-kind cricketer, Bangar said the all-rounder's quality to bid enactment arsenic a axenic batter oregon arsenic a frontline seamer makes him irreplaceable successful the nationalist set-up.

“There is nary different subordinate similar Hardik Pandya successful the Indian team,” Bangar declared connected JioStar up of India's location bid against South Africa.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Bangar pointed retired that Hardik's skill-set is arsenic uncommon arsenic Ben Stokes' for England oregon Ravindra Jadeja's for India successful longer formats. “Does England person a back-up for Ben Stokes? No. In one-day oregon adjacent Test cricket, determination is nary back-up for Ravindra Jadeja.

It is the aforesaid with Hardik Pandya,” helium said. “He tin bid a spot successful the apical 5 connected his batting alone. He could besides beryllium 1 of the apical 3 seamers successful immoderate squad if helium was conscionable a bowler.

To beryllium that benignant of all-rounder, you indispensable gain your spot with your batting and besides with your bowling.”

Pandya, retired for much than 2 months with a quadricep wounded suffered during the Asia Cup, signalled his instrumentality with a 42-ball 77 for Baroda successful the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and bowled 4 overs astatine afloat tilt.

Bangar stressed that Hardik's availability straight unlocks India's astir balanced XI due to the fact that it allows the squad to deploy their preferred rotation options without compromising batting depth. “A acceptable Hardik Pandya allows the squad to play its desired combination, particularly with the rotation options we have. That's wherefore his beingness is critically precise vital,” helium said, portion adding that workload absorption volition inactive beryllium required.

“We request to spot however helium copes. Playing SMAT is antithetic from planetary intensity. If needed, we indispensable negociate his workload, but helium should astatine slightest play the archetypal 3 matches.”

Pandya won't beryllium the lone returnee, with vice-captain Shubman Gill besides acceptable to diagnostic aft recovering from a cervix spasm. Bangar praised Gill's evolution, noting that his added work astatine the Test level has elevated his temperament. “More than his skill, his mindset has grown.

Taking other work arsenic a Test skipper makes him a acold much rounded player,” helium said, backing Gill to flourish astatine the apical successful T20Is.Bangar besides weighed successful connected enactment calls little down the bid and admitted that

Sanju Samson

whitethorn conflict to find a place. “With players similar Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube oregon Hardik Pandya available, determination whitethorn not beryllium a spot for him astatine four, 5 oregon six,” helium said, pointing alternatively to

Jitesh Sharma

's impact. “Jitesh Sharma has shown helium tin bat little down and deed with an older ball. I deliberation Jitesh volition present get the fig 7 spot.”As India's T20 plans yet statesman to instrumentality shape, Bangar's appraisal leaves small doubt: the 1 subordinate who whitethorn clasp each the pieces unneurotic is Hardik Pandya.