[ad_1]
Dubai. Former veteran batsman Ricky Ponting believes that India should have included Hardik Pandya in their team for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in London as this all-rounder could have played a decisive role in this match.
Pandya has not played a Test since 2018 and has decided against playing the five-day format due to fitness concerns. Ponting, however, feels that Pandya will be key in the title clash to be held at The Oval from June 7-11. could play a role. Mainly because he bowled in almost every match for Gujarat Titans in the recently concluded Indian Premier League. Pandya is the captain of Titans.
Ponting wrote for the ICC Review, “…I thought how important a player like Hardik Pandya could have been for India in this only Test match.”
He said, “I know that he has officially said that playing in a Test match is probably a bit tough on his body. But just for one match… He was bowling in every match in the IPL and he was bowling fast.
Ponting, the head coach of Delhi Capitals in the IPL and former Australia captain, said that Pandya could have been the X-factor for the Indian team in the WTC final to be held from June 7 to 11. He (Pandya) could have been the X-factor. He would have been picked for one match, then see what he could do with bat and ball. He could have been the difference between the two teams.
Pandya has played 11 Tests since his debut in 2017, scoring 532 runs at an average of 31.29 with one century and four fifties. He has also taken 17 wickets at an average of 31.05. Pandya has so far scored 1584 runs in 74 ODIs at an average of 33.00 and taken 72 wickets. In T20 internationals, he has scored 1271 runs in 87 matches and taken 69 wickets. Under Pandya’s leadership, Gujarat Titans won the IPL title on debut in 2022 but lost to Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings in the final of this season on Monday. Lost
[ad_2]
Source link
