Kapil Dev feels Hardik Pandya has the ability to become a good all-rounder

The Indian team is currently on a roll after they took an unbeatable lead in the ongoing 3-Test match series. And largely, the spin-duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are being credited with the chief architect’s role. Interestingly, former World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev feels that captain Virat Kohli can actually rely much on the promising seamers too.

India have won their eighth successive Test series and majorly it was the spin-bowling pair of Ashwin-Jadeja, who did the damage. Not just with the ball, both the all-rounder chipped in with vital contributions with the bat too, whenever the going got tough. The former Indian all-rounder strongly feels that India can today look up to their pacers too, after some fine performances through out last year by the likes of Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and the rest.

Kapil on Hardik

“Today we have started depending on fast bowlers. There was a time we didn’t have any fast bowlers and today we have so many fast bowlers. The people who are sitting out could have played for India any day,” Said Kapil as per the quotes on Zee News.

Hardik Pandya made his debut in the first Test and impressed from the very word ‘go’. He scored a gritty half-century and also picked up a wicket in the very first game. The youngster has impressed Kapil. The legendary cricketer said, “He has the ability (to become a good all-rounder) and he has to keep on performing.”

Hardik to play Stokes’ role?

Post the first Test match, skipper Virat Kohli had drawn comparisons between Pandya and his English competitor Ben Stokes. “At home, it has been different but when you play away, one guy gives you a lot of balance. I think Hardik can be that guy going ahead, especially playing so much cricket away from home. If he grows in confidence – you see someone like Ben Stokes, what he does for England. He brings in a great balance as an all-rounder. I see no reason why Hardik can’t become that for India,” Kohli had said.

India will play Sri Lanka in the 3rd Test starting from tomorrow (August 12). The visitors will look to push for a white-wash having already bagged the series without much threat.