Despite his lacklustre performance in the three ODI series, Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan has backed Hardik Pandya, saying the India all-caliber rounder’s is such that if he were the captain of a team, Pandya would have made it to his XI.
Pandya is a special player, according to Muralitharan, who believes he may not be 100 percent with the ball yet because he’s only recently returned to international cricket, but believes the India all-rounder is an asset with both bat and ball because of his versatility and what he brings to the table.
“Hardik Pandya is a unique talent. If I were captain, I would put him in any team in the world – an IPL team, an Australian team, etc. Because he can bowl at 140 clicks and can adjust and bowl slower. Because of his injury, I believe he won’t be able to do much “On ESPNCricinfo, Muralitharan said.
“Secondly, his batting is also special. We can’t accept him to play like Nitish Rana, or Suryakumar Yadav… stay long and get runs. He is a short-period batsman who would bamboozle you with a 40-ball hundred. That’s the expectation I would have from him.”
Pandya’s role, according to Muralitharan, should not be expected to play through the innings like India’s other top-order batsman. In fact, the former off-spinner believes Hardik’s best role is as a down-order hitter who can deliver big blows and give the team a boost towards the end.
“He might get out in the first two overs but if he clicks for 20-30 balls, he would score 50 runs. So that is the expectation from Hardik Pandya. If you make him play 70 balls and expect 90 runs, he would not be the same player,” Muralitharan added.
“It’s like asking Jayasuriya to open and score at run a ball. He won’t be successful. These players can play No. 7 and 8 anytime. Put him in and let him play his own game.”
