It is going to be a challenge for Hardik Pandya as to when and how to use Axar Patel: Wasim Jaffer

As Team India enters into the third T20I of the five-match series against the West Indies, they would look forward to avoiding a rare series defeat by hook or by crook on August 8. Several experiments haven't really worked out in tourists’ favour, and they would be keen on entering with a revamped approach in Guyana. There’s another department where Hardik Pandya has been at the receiving end of criticism, and it is the correct use of bowlers in the unit.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer pointed out that using Axar Patel well is turning out to be a tough nut to crack for Hardik Pandya. Patel, who has done exceptionally well in recent times, failed to roll his arms even once in the 2^nd T20I of the series. However, Jaffer added why Pandya wouldn’t have fancied Patel in front of Nicholas Pooran.

“That has been the problem with Axar Patel, starting from his IPL franchise to the national team. Whenever a left-hander comes into the crease, it feels like he is not going to bowl. I can understand when Nicholas Pooran is on strike, but I thought when he and Shimron Hetmyer got out, I was surprised that he was not thrown the ball there. Obviously, you had Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl his final over, and I was honestly surprised that he did not bowl,” said Jaffer while speaking on ESPNcricinfo.

The former cricketer added that it remains challenging for Pandya to make apt use of the left-arm spinner as he got to bowl in powerplay during the first T20I but didn’t get a single over in the 2^nd game. Pandya also copped flak for not giving Yuzvendra Chahal his full quota of overs in the 2^nd T20I.

“It is going to be a challenge for Hardik Pandya as to when and how to use Axar Patel. In the 1st T20I he bowled him in the powerplay. He got hit for a 6 and a 4 by Nicholas Pooran and that's a risk that you need to take,” Jaffer added.