Hardik Pandya should be utilized as a pure batter in T20 WC, reckons Virender Sehwag

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021, there have been a lot of talks around India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya who seems to be struggling with some fitness issues. It is known to all that Pandya hasn’t been regular with the ball after his back surgery and missed his bowling job on various occasions. Even if he did, he had discomfort and in the same line, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has come up with his opinion.

Sehwag believes that Pandya should be used as a pure batter in the T20 WC in the UAE as he is a batter first and his bowling is just a bonus. It was due to his destructive batting only that Gujarat cricketer was able to make his place in India’s XI. The former opener added that he would have gone with Pandya in his team even if he couldn’t ball.

“Hardik Pandya alone can win you matches. He is a batsman first and bowling is only a bonus. Even if he is not fit enough to bowl, he can win matches with the bat. I will always keep such a player in my team,” said Virender Sehwag while speaking to Cricbuzz.

Hardik Pandya has the skills to bat in the middle overs: Ajay Jadeja

In the same line of conversation, former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja also agreed to the points pitched by Sehwag. In fact, Jadeja added that Pandya should be sent up the order as he has desired skills to bat in the middle overs and sending him at no.7 will not be a fine idea.

“If a batter has to grow, he has to be sent up the order. Now he’s shown he can do this while coming in early. He has the skills to bat in the middle overs. Wondering why Mumbai Indians are not sending him up the order,” added Ajay Jadeja.

Though Pandya missed the initial games with Mumbai Indians in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 and looked rusty in the next game, he showed his caliber against PBKS while taking the team home with his unbeaten knock of 40 runs at the end.