Ravi Shastri opens up on how Hardik Pandya can get back into ODI setup
Chaithanya GCorrespondent
Posted - 2024-07-29T13:52:09+06:00
Updated - 2024-07-29T13:52:09+06:00
Former India's head coach Ravi Shastri has advised all-rounder Hardik Pandya to feature in many T20Is as possible so that he can get back into the ODI set-up. During an interview to ICC, Ravi Shastri echoed that Pandya has all the tools and ingredients to bowl his full quota of 50 overs.
He further added that if Hardik Pandya is fit as a fiddle, then he would come into the team for the ODIs. As per a report by The Indian Express, Hardik Pandya requested the BCCI to exclude him from the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to personal reasons.
Currently, he is part of the T20I series against Sri Lanka, which India won the series by 2-0, with one more game to go. The dead rubber will kick off on July 30, Tuesday at Pallekele. Hardik Pandya hit the winning runs for India in the second T20I on July 28.
"I think (it's) very important that he continues to play. I believe match fitness is very important. So whatever T20I cricket there is, he should play as much as he can. And if he feels strong and fit, then obviously he comes into the side for the one-day game as well," Shastri said.
"But then again, the bowling becomes important. If you have someone coming and bowling just three overs in where you have to bowl 10 in a one-day game, then the balance of the side takes a hit. If you can bowl consistently eight to 10 overs every game and then bat the way he does, I think he'll play in one-day cricket as well," the former India's head coach.
Hardik Pandya has played 86 ODIs for Team India, wherein he scored 1769 runs at an average of 34 including 11 fifties. On the other hand, he took 84 wickets including a four wicket haul.