If you want to play just three pacers, Hardik Pandya cannot be one of them: Sanjay Manjrekar

Ever since India announced their squad for the Asia Cup, a lot of experts and fans expressed how India is going with a pacer shot. With Avesh Khan being ruled out of the third match against Pakistan, Hardik Pandya was given the responsibility of playing as the third seamer. 

The 28-year-old was brilliant in the first match against Pakistan but failed the second time as he gave away 44 runs in his four overs and India registered a five-wicket defeat in Dubai. With Jadeja’s injury, the balance of the team is currently under threat.

Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Hardik is great as a fourth seamer but not when he knows his responsibility as a third seamer. Avesh Khan and Jadeja’s injury pushed Hardik to take the job on his hand but his performance will be monitored.

“One thing that came through for me and I'm sure for the team management as well is that if you at some point of time want to play just three medium pacers, Hardik Pandya cannot be one of the three. Hardik is great when he knows that he is the 4th seamer, and he can afford to have an off day and somebody else will come and take over like Jadeja could bowl a couple of overs and Hardik Pandya if he’s not bowling well, not getting wickets could be happy with two. So that is one issue that came out,” said Manjrekar on SPORTS18’s daily sports news show ‘SPORTS OVER THE TOP’.

India could have gotten 210-220 if there was more contribution from the lower half: Sanjay Manjrekar

Many feel that India were at least 10-15 runs short against Pakistan given the kind of start they had. Manjrekar said India's lower order couldn’t capitalise the start that top order provided. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul went after the bowlers right from the start while Virat Kohli scored 60 off 44 deliveries. 

“India still ended up getting 180. I thought they could have gotten 210-220 if there was more contribution from the lower half. Interestingly, in the first 10 overs, India got 93 and in the next 10, they got 88. But it's one of the occupational hazards of this approach. But not because the tail is too long,” said Manjrekar in the show.