Hardik Pandya is all set to play his first game since the World Cup semifinal. On this occasion, former Indian batsman VVS Laxman thinks that his return to the national team will add firepower to India’s batting.
On Hardik and more
Hardik Pandya was rested from the tour of West Indies just after the World Cup due to his workload. Now he will be making his comeback in the three-T20I series against South Africa starting Sunday. Laxman believes that already powerful batting lineup of the Indian team will have a major boost after the addition of Hardik Pandya. He wrote in his column in Times of India, “India boast a powerful and experienced batting line-up which gives them the edge straightaway, and the return of Hardik Pandya adds greater firepower to the batting and balance to the team.”
He further explained why Manish Pandey should retain his place in the eleven. “While Hardik will slot straightaway into the playing XI, I would also like to see Manish Pandey retain his place because against West Indies, he didn’t get many opportunities to showcase his abilities.”
He also wrote about the team combination in detail where he threw light upon Shikhar Dhawan’s inclusion in the team. He explained. “Shikhar has been out of sorts in seven T20Is this year, and there are a lot of other batsmen capable of striking up a good alliance with Rohit at the top of the order. How long a rope the team management is willing to give him will make for interesting viewing.”
On T20 World Cup
No wonder after the massacre in the showpiece event, Indian focus is absolutely on the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2020. After thrashing West Indies at home, according to Laxman, a confident Indian team will approach the Proteas at home. “Against a new-look South Africa is the three-match T20I series, which India will approach with great confidence and optimism. Their last outing was an unqualified success, away from home, against the formidable West Indies who are the defending Twenty20 World Cup champions. The ease with which India brushed them aside in Lauderhill and Providence was a tremendous achievement, and I expect an equally strong performance against Quinton de Kock’s young South Africa side.”
