Former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh feels that the BCCI made the right decision by ignoring all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the World Test Championship and the England series.
Sarandeep, who was part of the selection committee until India’s tour of Australia, has agreed that Hardik Pandya is not that useful just with his ball, he emphasized the fact that he has to bowl as well to get in the contention of playing 11 in any format of the game.
“The selectors’ decision to ignore Hardik for Tests is understandable. He has not been able to bowl regularly after his surgery. I feel he has to bowl 10 overs in ODIs and four in T20s to be part of the playing XI even in shorter formats. He can’t just play as a batsman,” Sarandeep, a former India spinner, told PTI.
After undergoing back surgery in September 2019, Hardik made his comeback to international cricket during 2020 India’s tour of Australia but never got to play a single game of the series.
He also took part in IPL 2020 but he was not in the best of form with the ball. Hardik did roll his arm over in a couple of matches of the limited-overs leg of the Australia tour, but ever since his return, he has been used judiciously and sporadically as a bowler.
