After having lost the One Day International series by 1-2, Team India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing three-match Twenty20 International series. In the T20I series, all-rounder Hardik Pandya proved his worth once again and helped his side win as well. Meanwhile, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has asked for his inclusion in the longer format as well for the upcoming series against Australia.
His comment came after Hardik Pandya played a swashbuckling match-winning knock of 42* off 22 deliveries after Shikhar Dhawan steadied the ship in the opening and helped India to seal the deal by six wickets against Australia in the second T20I on Sunday. His blitzy knock also included two sixes and three fours and those sixes came in the final over when India required 14 runs and this way he took the team to the victory.
However, not only this but he has been in a sublime form with the bat in the ODI series also where he scored 90 and 92*. Before that, he played a crucial role for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020, helping them win their record fifth IPL title as well. After seeing his sensational form, Kaif took to Twitter and asked for his inclusion in the Test squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series.
He wrote: “@hardikpandya7, with an average of nearly 90, has emerged as India’s go to batsman in white ball cricket, behind @imVkohli. Time is ripe for Hardik to be added to the Test squad, in this red hot form worth holding him back in Australia”
.@hardikpandya7, with an average of nearly 90, has emerged as India's go to batsman in white ball cricket, behind @imVkohli. Time is ripe for Hardik to be added to the Test squad, in this red hot form worth holding him back in Australia
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 6, 2020
Here are some other reactions:
Feel Hardik Pandya should stay back for the Test series v Australia. With the kind of form he’s in he can be a value addition in the team as a batsman.
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 6, 2020
I think it will be a huge miss if the Indian selectors don't ask Hardik Pandya to stay back for the Test series.
— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) December 6, 2020
Surely Hardik Pandya stays for the Test Series 🙏 Maybe he cant squeeze in the XI for the First Test, but when Kohli leaves, he has to play. #AUSvsIND
— Bowie (@bowenrob) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya has played exceptional cricket to stay back for the test series. He brings the same flair to the game as Virat.
— Jheevan (@Jheevan) December 6, 2020
@hardikpandya7 needs to be in the test team!!! He's mere presence and batting ability will worry the Aussies! @BCCI @imVkohli @plalor @tommorris32 @vikrantgupta73
He adds the flair and aggressive India needs once Kohli leaves #IndiavsAustralia #INDvsAUS
— Paddy (@Paddy26301784) December 6, 2020
Notably, the four-match Test series is slated to begin on December 17. India wouldn’t get the service of their skipper, Virat Kohli, for the final three Tests. He will return home after playing the first Test to be with his wife, Anushka Sharma, as they are going to parents soon. Apart from him, there are also question marks over Rohit Sharma’s availability as well who is still at the National Cricket Academy for his rehab. Rohit, however, sustained the injury during IPL 2020 but later led Mumbai Indians in the final and won the title.
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