ICC World Cup 2019 | Ravi Shastri impressed with Hardik Pandya’s evolution as bowler
Ravi Shastri is mightily pleased with Hardik Pandya’s evolution as a bowler who can consistently deliver 10 overs for the team at the World Cup. Pandya, usually a floater in the bowling department, has chipped in with some important spells against Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh so far.
Going into the World Cup, it was fairly certain that India would pick four specialists bowlers, with Pandya and Jadhav completing the quota for the fifth bowler. However, things have turned out in a way that Pandya has ended up bowling his full quota more often than not, picking up nine wickets. This has meant that India can add depth to their batting lineup. The Indian head coach was obviously thrilled at the evolution of his all-rounder.
"He has come along as a bowler. You're getting full 10 overs out of him. He reads the conditions well. He knows where to use the slow bouncers and off-cutters. His reading of the game is good. It's a massive help for the side when you have a batsman as flamboyant as him who can also bowl you the overs," Shastri was quoted saying by IndiaToday.
While Pandya has chipped in with the bat as well, Bumrah, Kohli, and the others have done their job very well too. However, the star for India has undoubtedly been Rohit Sharma. The opener has scored 647 runs, which is 16 short of Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in a single World Cup. Sharma already has five centuries, which is a World Cup record. However, Shastri isn’t at all surprised.
" One of the greatest one-day players. Whether he would have scored runs in this competition or not, just seeing his record over the years... 3 double hundreds in ODIs. No one has done that. He has been really consistent for India at the top. His form was no surprise. If he chooses a tournament like the World Cup to get that form in, as a coach, I will take it," Shastri said.
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