Pandya is like a multitasking specimen designed in a cricketer’s lab, but for a body that wilts in the cauldron of international cricket.
At his best, there are few who can do it like Hardik Pandya. His talents are rare and there are many – like hitting the first ball he faces; like setting off a six-hit carnage, like hitting his first ball at 140 km/h Timing; like seams at this speed in favorable conditions. He can wear several attire – Virat Kohli’s selfless, monotonous partner; Jasprit Bumrah’s finisher supporting act, who is both bat and ball finisher. On the seam, he can move the ball in both directions; on slow decks, he releases his cutter and slower ball; he brings balance and suppression, but only when he’s at his best.
Pandya is like a multitasking specimen designed in a cricketer’s lab, but for a body that wilts in the cauldron of international cricket. There may be more skilled players than him on the individual side. But as a healthy package, men like him are rare. This is especially true for a country where fast bowling is rare. Even if they do, they don’t have a Pandya-esque ancestry. No wonder coaches, captains, fans or anyone who follows Indian cricket closely is keeping a close eye on him, even though his last Test was three years ago and his recent appearances in white-ball cricket have been sporadic. Even in those games, he seemed like an imposter in his prime.
In his injury-free glory days, Pandya often affected the game. Of the players who debuted after him — in 2016 — no one could score on 116 attempts. Plus an average of 32 batting average. 6 or 7, he really is a real deal. Only Rohit Sharma has hit more sixes in 50-plus games than he (54) during that stretch. Pandya caused sheer damage in his last few strikes – 90 in Sydney’s 76, not the same as Canberra’s 92, or a whirlwind 63 in 44 against England in Pune. These knocks prove the theory that he was chosen purely for his generosity.
Pandya’s bowling was equally influential before injuries plagued him. He fills in mostly as a third receiver, operates on the death and, when handing over a new ball, also regularly grabs wickets. Like his Over-50 debut in Dharamsala, his top-flight spell in New Zealand, or his thrifty spell during the 2017 trophy and South Africa (2018). But he’s now a guest bowler, having lost his former pace and venom, and he’s no longer an automatic pitcher for the Eleven or the team. So just as Pandya is looking for his old self, so is the chooser looking for a replacement or a replacement, maybe not his transcript, but at least someone who can fill the multiple roles he can play. With an eye toward the 2023 World Cup, some of them may take on the role of Pandya.
Thakur can bat and the current bowler is better than Pandya. He may not have the pace of Pandya, but is cunning and has a knack for making the right ball at the right time. He has a whole range of white-ball skills to choose from, headlined by the knuckleball, and can make impressive transitions with the new ball as well. But in the Over-50 format, he’s mostly a bowler who can hit the ball. In 10 innings, he has played for half a century, averaging 127 points at 39.40 points per game. But it’s absurd to think he’s a homogeneous replacement for Pandya for three reasons. A) He’s never played under the all-rounder tag, which is a liability. B) Most of his runs are performed in a relatively stress-free environment. While useful, his run ultimately didn’t have a huge impact. C) No expected pressure.
His utility on the ball, though different, is on par with peak Pandya. He can take new balls, pick wickets, use chokes in midfield and hit the ball in the last 10. He’s also a tenacious hitter, but the big question is whether he can orchestrate chaos like Pandya. Sundar’s strike rates in T20s (119) and List A (79) suggest that his approach is more orthodox than postmodern. But at 22 years old, he has enormous potential and could be the all-rounder in Pandya mode before the next World Cup.
Jadeja is a guaranteed starter whether or not Pandya is on the court. With the ball, his role is different – he’s a spinner, mostly a middle-class thrift dealer. Like Pandya, he can do whatever he wants, but he can’t start with the No. 1 ball. These days, he takes his time before teeing off. He sacrificed some sprints in his quest to transform into a Test all-rounder. Jadeja has certainly rekindled some old businesses in recent Over-50 cricket, but can he consistently stir up such rage? Also, the general feeling is that a team needs two finishers/explosive late hitters.
Huda hit the right note in his debut Sunday, showing maturity under pressure while shooting an unbeaten 26. After a shaky phase, he’s matured and appears capable of handling quality at an international level, but the big question mark is whether he can bowl. After his action was cleared a few years ago, he was a handy perimeter player, a regular in the Indian Premier League, largely dependent on his ability to chip away with some stingy balls on a regular basis. India already has too many batsmen who don’t bowl. Furthermore, he has yet to replicate his big hand at the international level. Compared to IPL, ODI is another story.
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