Can Hardik Pandya make it at the Test level?

[dani2k]

Forget Kapil.. a lot of comparisons liken him to Klusener at the moment. Given the paucity of pace bowling all round talent over the years a Klusener would do just fine for us - actually he would be nothing less than gold dust!

I do hope he is nurtured well and his workload handled extremely carefully given that we have nil back up.

 

[Abdullah719]

India vs Sri Lanka: Virat Kohli says Hardik Pandya's performance biggest positive of series

India captain Virat Kolhi believes that Hardik Pandya's performance was the biggest positive of the three-match test series against Sri Lanka. India completed a 3-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka with an innings and 171-run annihilation in the third and final Test, bringing an early end to one of the most lopsided series in recent years.

Praising Pandya's performance in his debut test series, Kohli said, "The regulars have performed, but the biggest positive would be Hardik's inclusion and the way he shaped up in these three Test matches."

"The kind of confidence he showed the with the ball and the maturity with the bat, it really gives us a lot of boost and the balance," said Kohli at the post-match presentation.

Pandya smashed a 96-ball 108 on Sunday for his maiden international century, helping India post 487 in the first innings. Besides a hundred and fifty in his debut Test series, Pandya picked up four wickets.

"We are a young side, we look forward to play Test cricket, we look forward to play every single Test match with the same kind of excitement and that is the only way you can be ruthless," he said.

"We like to be prepared before hand and be proactive rather than being reactive. We have age on our side and we have an opportunity to play together for five, six years for the country."

hough India won the series with ease, Kohli gave due respect to their opponents.

He said: "All of them are super talented players, that is why they are playing for the country. They beat Australia 3-0. Sometimes the side has momentum, sometimes they don't. It's all about keeping the belief going and not losing motivation because of a few results. That is what we believe in as a team as well." Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal had no qualms in saying that his team's performance was below par.

"This was a tough series for us. Credit to India for playing outstanding cricket throughout the series. Our batting and bowling was below par. We need to stand up as a team," said Chandimal.

"We have to be patient and concentrate harder (when batting or bowling). If we can do that, I am sure we will do as a team and comeback stronger for the Pakistan series," he added.

http://www.dnaindia.com/sports/repo...erformance-biggest-positive-of-series-2529590

 

[Abdullah719]

Not bad.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Good start to his test career but I will reserve judgement till after he tours SA, AUS & ENG

Off to a great start.......

 

[SandyB]

Another talent that we meme'd to great heights after Jadeja. Sad he couldn't get the 100.

 

[JattMaula]

He needs to improve his batting by several levels to be in Indian test team.

After 14 months--

Definite improvement vs pace.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Too easy. You gotta be an idiot to not realize talent this obvious.

 

[aniket1911]

Had it not been for Bhuvi playing rash shot, Pandya might have scored his century today. Gutted for him.

 

[JattMaula]

Had it not been for Bhuvi playing rash shot, Pandya might have scored his century today. Gutted for him.

If he can fight and survive against this attack in this conditions then he will get more chances to score triple figures.

But he is vulnerable against short fast balls on pacy surfaces. This will be exploited further by SA in this series.

 

[Napa]

No.

He is a dud with the bat and a mediocre with the ball.

Unless he improves massively with both bat and ball, he is not worth a spot in both ODI and T20 teams.

I thought you had got over underestimating Pandya after CT and the Australia ODI series.

 

[JattMaula]

I thought you had got over underestimating Pandya after CT and the Australia ODI series.

Not underestimating him but analysing his game.

He has delivered for us above expectations. But you could see that he was not as confident when SA went for short ball strategy. Its nothing new for us. our stroke makers of past(UV, Raina, Ganguly, kholi) had to adapt and learn their own way of handling something they don't face too often. Some like Raina never overcame their weakness.

 

[Napa]

Not underestimating him but analysing his game.

He has delivered for us above expectations. But you could see that he was not as confident when SA went for short ball strategy. Its nothing new for us. our stroke makers of past(UV, Raina, Ganguly, kholi) had to adapt and learn their own way of handling something they don't face too often. Some like Raina never overcame their weakness.

Saying "He is a dud with the bat and a mediocre with the ball" is analyzing his game?

 

[JattMaula]

Saying "He is a dud with the bat and a mediocre with the ball" is analyzing his game?

Did I say that? Let me check.

 

[Napa]

Did I say that? Let me check.

You did not say that. However, you were replying to my post where I quoted [MENTION=141520]troodon[/MENTION] saying that.

 

[JattMaula]

He needs to improve his batting by several levels to be in Indian test team. But being around Rahane, Kohli will not hurt his development

Not good enough to be a test middle order batsman. And if he develops decent defensive technique by some miracle then he can replace Ashwin at 6. He can bat in any position below Kohli in LOI's though.

His bowling look improved in the previous match but one can never be sure because he was cocky enough in the after presentation about the same.

Cocky is his personality and it's fine as long as he works hard and gives 100% in field.

I see lot of polarized opinion about his behavior in future

Agree but Pandya's attitude comes across more like :ahmed than Kohli or Ponting but its still early I might be wrong about him.

What's wrong with :ahmed attitude? If he had worked hard, he would be regular in Pak team.

He has always been like that even when he was a nobody and when his family struggled to make ends meet. Maybe better to accept that there will be different characters and not every cricketer will be a well mannered politically correct individual rolled out of an assembly line.

We Indians like our stars to be the perfect role models

Don't even think he needs to contribute much with the bat. 30s, 40s are enough. But will be great if he can play the role of a 4th bowler in overseas. He switched from legspin to pace bowling only 3 years back, so is a bit raw atm. He needs to work on his bowling and add the much needed balance to the team overseas. 3 genuine pacers + pure spinner + pace bowling all rounder would be a fantastic combination.

No. He needs to contribute more than 30-40 if he wants to be an all-rounder. He needs to average above 40 at least. Bits and pieces is not the way to go in Tests.

I think I was balanced. [MENTION=142162]Napa[/MENTION]

 

[JattMaula]

Sorry I though you quoted me!

Facepalm worthy mistake.

 

[Napa]

I think I was balanced. [MENTION=142162]Napa[/MENTION]

Not a problem... let's get SA tomorrow

 

[JattMaula]

Not a problem... let's get SA to victory tomorrow

Fixed it for you.