Hardik Pandya potentially India’s next Kapil Dev
LIKELY SUCCESSOR Young Indian allrounder’s biggest influence could come in Tests
Hardik Pandya is potentially the pace bowling all-rounder India has craved since Kapil Dev retired. P andy a is a huge hit with the fans and was partly responsible for India dominating Australia in the recent O DI series. However, his biggest influence on the team could come in the Test arena. A player like P andy a, who has the ability to bat in the top six and bowl at 140 kph gives a Test side the flexibility that leads to success in all conditions. It affords India the opportunity to field a balanced attack of five bowlers. P andy a not only has the skill to perform the role successfully but now that he’ s achieving consistency at international level, his confidence has soared. He also has the added attribute of being prepared to experiment and consequently his bowling is likely to be effective under a variety of conditions. Allrounders with those attributes have the ability to change the course of a game quickly and in doing so, inspire their teammates.
For India to be regarded as a great side, they need to perform well in tough conditions and against competitive opponents like Australia and South Africa. If Pandya can adapt his bowling to succeed in those cauldrons - and there’s no reason he can’t - then India, with a strong batting line-up, is more likely to experience consistent overseas success.
The other challenge Pandya will face - especially in Australia -is the needling high-profile players receive from the crowds. This can have the effect of being either an inspiration or an imposition and the way Pandya handles the barracking will contribute to either his success or failure.
If he needs inspiration in this regard, he only needs look to former Pakistan bats man J av ed Miandad. Miandad could be as annoying as a shovel grating on cement and he was constantly heckled in Australia but that only made him determined. Eventually Miandad was accorded the highest Australian sporting compliment :“He’ s a bloody annoying opponent but we’d love to have him on our side.”
With his flamboyant style, Pandya reminds me a littleof the electrifying England all-rounder Ben Stokes; the outstanding and combative cricketer on the field rather than the citizen with a pro- pensity for self-destruction off it.
Bot h players are aggressive in their approach and this often results in a match-changing performance or a deflating misfire. Neither is concerned with containment and this can lead to the odd profligate spell of bowling.
Equally, their predatory batting approach is prone to outlandish dismissals that leave fans groaning. However, when they succeed it can lead to quick runs or wickets in clumps, either of which can change the course of a match. At this stage Stokes has done it at Test level while P andy a only has the potential for such achievements. This type of player reminds me of a colourful description that radio comment ator Johnny Mo yes onc eu til is ed to describe South Australia’s captain and ultra-aggressive opener.
“We all know Les Favell,” Mo yes began ,“someday she does and some days he doesn’t. Well today he did.”
Fans flock to the ground to watch the likes of Stokes and Pandya. They hope to witness something exceptional, so that they can boast; “Well today he did.”
P andy a left his imprint against Australia when he plundered three successive sixes off legspinner Adam Zampa in Chennai. India won that game after being in a precarious position.
In other matches of that series Pandya made useful contributions with both bat and ball. If Pandya can perform at a similar level in the Test arena, then he’ll not only be regarded as a top-class all-round er but he’ ll also improve India’ s chances of winning worldwide.
› ian says A player like Pandya, who has the ability to bat in the top six and bowl at 140 kph gives a Test side the flexibility that leads to success in all conditions. If Pandya can adapt his bowling to succeed abroad, then India, with strong batting, is more likely to experience overseas success.