Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar has remarked that there is no backup for players such as Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya on the national team.
Hardik Pandya will return to international cricket for a five-match T20I series against South Africa. He had a left quadriceps injury at the Asia Cup in September. Hardik represented Baroda in two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 matches and impressed with both bat and ball.
Bangar, who has previously coached India’s batting line-up, believes Hardik has the potential to establish himself as a specialist hitter or bowler.
“Look at all the all-rounders in world cricket now. Does England have a back-up for Ben Stokes? No. In one-day or even Test cricket, there is no back-up for Ravindra Jadeja. It is the same with Hardik Pandya,” JioStar expert Bangar said.
“He (Pandya) can command a spot in the top five on his batting alone. He could also be one of the top three seamers in any team if he was just a bowler. The point is, to be that kind of all-rounder, you must earn your place with your batting and also with your bowling. There is no other player like Hardik Pandya in the Indian team.” On Pandya’s workload management, Bangar said he should at least play the first three matches against South Africa.
A fit Hardik Pandya allows the team to play its desired combination: Sanjay Bangar
Bangar mentioned that Hardik’s workload should be monitored carefully by the Indian team management. The cricketer-turned-expert feels that Hardik’s presence could allow India to play different combinations.
“We need to see how he copes,” Bangar said, insisting that it is too early to say if he should play six or seven T20Is before the World Cup.
“Playing in the SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) is different from the intensity of an international game. The team management must manage the workload of important players like him. So, if needed, we must do that for Hardik too. A fit Hardik Pandya allows the team to play its desired combination, especially with the spin options we have. That’s why his presence is critically very vital,” he suggested.
Hardik suffered an injury scare while bowling on Sunday and didn’t practice with the team on Monday. However, reports suggest that the injury isn’t too serious and Hardik will be available to partake in the five-match series.
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