India vs New Zealand | There was no desperate hitting from Hardik Pandya today, comments Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar has asserted that Hardik Pandya’s 22-ball 45 against the Kiwis in the fifth ODI was a real delight to watch as it was a calculated assault and there was no desperate hitting. The former opener also mentioned that Ambati Rayudu has learnt from his own mistakes to improve his batting.
Pandya helped India post a respectable total of 252 against New Zealand at Wellington on Sunday and was the second best Indian with the bat. His knock was next to Rayudu's that eventually rescued India after they were at a precarious situation with the scoreboard reading 18/4 inside the first 10 overs.
Former Indian captain and opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on Pandya after his heroics at Wellington.
"There was no desperate hitting today at all. It was a calculated assault. It was magnificent to watch, it was delightful to watch. He , with those hits, apart from the runs that have been added also lifts the mood in the dressing room. He has got those 40-50 extra runs," Gavaskar told Star Sports after the end of India’s innings.
Pandya walked into bat at a better situation as Ambati Rayudu’s 90 and Vijay Shankar's 45 stabilised the team with a stand of 95 runs for the fifth wicket, and after the all-rounder’s dismissal, Rayudu added 74 more runs for the sixth wicket with Kedar Jadhav (34).
But once Jadhav was dismissed, Pandya took it to himself as he smashed Todd Astle for three consecutive sixes in the 47th over and helped India's score go past the 250-run mark.
When asked about promoting Hardik Pandya up the batting order, Gavaskar replied, "Yes, this is exactly what the Indian team wants from him. That is the reason, he was held back and Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav were sent ahead. But sometimes, why not give him a few more overs? Instead of the last 10 overs, if he gets to bat may 15 overs, those extra five overs could mean another 25 or even 45 runs.”
"There were questions being asked after he (Rayudu) got out in the previous game . The situation was similar and he had looked to play the aggressive game and got out. He has learnt from that, today the first 20 deliveries, he scored only one run and then another 11 odd runs in the next 20 deliveries because that was the time the New Zealand bowling was at its top. When the innings started to stabilise, he opened his shoulders and upped the ante. Unlucky to have missed out on the hundred."
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