Win Projections to be updated soon
India recently won the T20I series against England by a margin of 3-2. A great positive from that victory was the contribution of Hardik Pandya with the ball. It was great to see him turning up with the change-ups that showed the other bowlers a path to deliver even with a wet ball. He returned with good figures more often than not which helped India claim the series. But why Hardik Pandya is not bowling in the ODIs this question is there in everyone’s mind.
Hardik Pandya is not bowling in the ODIs Reveals Virat
However, since the ODIs have arrived, he is absent from the bowling crease. India won the first ODI without his bowling. But the English batsmen absolutely hammered every Indian bowler and made a mockery of the target of 337. Not seeing Hardik Pandya bowling in such a situation came in as a surprise. Even the commentators were a bit perplexed by Virat Kohli not turning towards Hardik when literally no other bowler had an answer to the big-hitting.
Hardik’s slower balls could have been effective in such a scenario. However, England chased down the score with 39 balls to spare. When the Indian captain appeared for the post-match interview, he faced the mandatory question about Hardik not getting the ball. Kohli replied that it is a conscious effort to manage his workload. Hardik has had issues with his back and has remained out of action due to injuries on multiple occasions. Kohli added that the final of the World Test Championship is also in line for which the team management intends to keep the all-rounder fit.
Workload management
Hardik used to put a lot of stress on his back while bowling until last year. He has remodeled his bowling action slightly to take the pressure off the back. While he bowled well in the T20Is, it’s important that team India sticks to a plan when it comes to managing his workload and keep him free from injury.
Even though he didn’t bowl in the game, he contributed well with the bat. The 27-year-old came in to bat in the 45th over and smashed 35 off just 16 balls that helped India get to a big score. It would have been better had he delivered with the ball too. But patience is the key while maintaining the fitness of a match-winner like him is concerned.
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