Hardik Pandya will have to go bowling again before India considers it a test option again. This was made clear when Virat Kohli was asked whether management would be tempted to retain the SUV for the test series, after a series of major performances on the limited leg of the tour, where he played as a specialized hitter and finished. up Man of the series in the T20.
In addition to casting an impromptu spell during the second ODI against Australia, Pandya has spent the entire season, including the IPL, playing solo as a hitter as he continues to improve his fitness after back surgery last year. The message around his no bowling, from voices like Mahela Jayawardene and Zaheer Khan of the Mumbai Indians, had been one of caution, not to rush him back to a bowling workload, and that seems to be the picture in the selection. national too.
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“It has been outstanding,” Kohli said at a press conference after the T20I series concluded. “He couldn’t bowling and we knew he wasn’t going to. But what we saw of him at the IPL, and the headspace he’s in, you know, you can see from his play, that he wants to be part of the team. But test cricket is a very different challenge and we need him to play in. We’ve talked to him about it.
“We need him to go bowling. That’s when he becomes the guy who brings us a lot of balance. If you’ve also watched our cricket abroad, in South Africa and England, we were able to compete for longer periods through test matches for the fact that he brought a lot of balance in terms of his bowling. We’ve communicated that to him. “
After the second T20I, Pandya was asked on air if he would like to stay behind for testing, and he showed brief interest in the idea. “It’s a different game that I think I need to be … I mean, I don’t care. But at the end of the day it’s the call of management and everyone (to do),” he had said. However, at the end of the third T20I on Tuesday, he said he was interested in spending time with his family and not thinking of a return from the test at this point.
Pandya has played 11 tests for India since his debut in 2017, the last in England in 2018. Since then, recurring back discomfort has kept him at bay. He is averaging 31.29 with the bat, with five touchdowns of over fifty, and 31.05 with the ball with a five of. The management requirement that you are shooting like a full-fledged SUV to be considered for testing is clear to you.
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“He’s definitely in an area where he wants to get stronger, solve and resolve all these issues, and he wants to be able to provide India with all three disciplines, and that has always been his X-factor and it will continue to be.” be, “Kohli said.” In cue ball cricket, we’ve found someone who can finish games steadily. But he wants to get back into the bowling space himself and be available as a pure all-rounder in testing, which becomes much more important. For five days, you need a little more than one player in that role. So he gets it and he’s working really hard to get back. “
Shami, Bumrah kept cool for the first test
India was scheduled to play two multi-day touring games, one of which concluded Tuesday without the participation of senior fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who were with the T20I team. Bumrah, however, did not participate in any of the three T20s and Shami only played in the first one in Canberra. Kohli said this was an attempt to be careful about the tight schedule and what could affect fitness levels.
“It’s very important to understand that you need fresh guys for the first test,” Kohli said. “You need to take some calls in addition to playing so many games. The fact that we’ve played six games in absolutely no time is something we all need to address and be careful about.
“You don’t want the guys starting the test match to feel sore or feel like their legs have had too many miles. So we keep in constant communication with the bowlers, asking them how their bodies feel and they have been quite professional. .and pretty good at communicating what they need. We need to show absolute trust and faith in their processes and make sure they’re in the right space before the first test. “
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In total, India has played six limited matches since the tour began on November 27, and schedule limitations meant that one of their practice games overlapped with the last two T20 matches. The time available before the test series begins is a useful pause, Kohli said, but the overall schedule meant that workload management was unavoidable for those involved in all formats.
“I think before we go to the first test, the feeling we want to have is that our games are at an acceptable level,” Kohli said. “But more important than that is that you are physically fresh. We cannot afford the slightest discomfort or muscle strain. That is the highest priority for us: keeping our top players in good physical shape. To start the test series well, we will need our eleven fittest players on the field. “
The last match of the India tour starts on Friday, before the first test in Adelaide from December 17th. It will be the only test Kohli plays before going on paternity leave. Kohli said he was personally in a good headspace heading into the longer format, after what he called an uneven start to the tour.
“Tonight I felt particularly good. I think I’m in the right headspace now. I think it was a little rough in the first ODI to start with, but then I tackled a few things and worked on some aspects of my game that I wanted to do. I just wanted to do it. to get into the best possible headspace, without thinking too much about technique. Because when I get into a good headspace that’s when I feel like I can play and switch between all the formats, and adjust according to the conditions too. “, said.
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