Former fast bowler Ashish Nehra has advised the Indian team not to put pressure on Hardik Pandya to bowl four overs in every match. Hardik recently regained his fitness and took Gujarat Titans to the team IPL title in its first season itself. Nehra, who worked with Pandya as head coach in Gujarat, admitted that India Hardik’s services are needed in T20Is but want the management to build him up gradually.
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The Nehra-Pandya partnership did wonders in the recently concluded IPL as the two also shared a great camaraderie. The flamboyant all-rounder proved his mettle with the bat in IPL 2022 as he promoted himself up the batting order to showcase his talent.
Nehra said that Pandya has all the credentials to be fit in any format as a batsman but in T20Is if he handles the bowling then he gets an added advantage.
“We always talk about Hardik Pandya whether he will be able to bowl or not. Look, what do I think Pandya can fit into any format as a batsman; Even in test matches. But here we are talking about T20. If he bowls, it will definitely be beneficial for India,” Nehra said on Cricbuzz.
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Nehra further advised Team India to use Hardik as the sixth bowling option and not pressurize him to bowl four overs in every match.
“With India’s team structure, they need Hardik Pandya as none of their top-order batsmen bowl. Hardik is often used as the fifth bowler. If he is fit he should bowl, no doubt about it. But it would be better if Hardik plays without the constant pressure of bowling four overs in every match. You have to play five bowlers and Hardik Pandya as the sixth bowler,” Nehra said.
The Gujarat Titans head coach said Hardik has all the potential and skills to become the second or third bowler in the team but given his injuries in recent times, he wants India to manage his workload.
Look, I am not saying that Hardik cannot be the fifth bowler. With his skill, he can be your second or third bowler too. But he has recently returned from injury, he has played the entire IPL, so it is better that you build him up gradually.”
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