India vs Australia: Hardik Pandya returns to bowling in the 2nd India vs Australia ODI
Follow Us
India’s ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to bowling in the India vs Australia 2nd ODI. His return comes just a day after he had said that he won’t rush his bowling comeback until he is 100% ready.
Team India clearly had a weak bowling attack in the first ODI as they were missing their 6th bowling option. This may have forced skipper Virat Kohli to introduce Hardik Pandya to bowl a couple of overs. Hardik’s pace was around 131-132 kph. His approach was slightly different to protect his back but his accuracy was on point as always.
Pandya has returned to bowling for the first time after the World Cup Semi Finals against New Zealand. This is also his first time bowling for India after September 2019. In 2019, he had suffered a back injury forcing him to avoid bowling as he slowly made his return to competitive cricket.
He did not bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in recently concluded IPL 2020. Even in the first India vs Australia ODI, he played as a pure batsman. Coming in at No.6 he seemed to be in a sublime form with the bat smashing 90 runs from 76 balls. His effort kept India in the massive chase after the four top-order batsmen who departed before him failed to contribute much.
There are no doubts about Hardik’s skill with the bat and his ability to hit boundaries. However, his decision to not bowl does put the team off-balance. Especially since India doesn’t have another all-rounder in the squad at the moment.
India vs Australia: “I want to be 100% of my bowling capacity for the most important games,” said Hardik Pandya after 1st ODI
After the first India vs Australia ODI, Hardik Pandya had hinted he would return to bowling ahead of the T20 World Cup next year. He also had pledged to make a comeback only after he was 100% ready.
“It is a process [returning to the bowling crease after a long hiatus]. I am looking at a long-term goal where I want to be 100% of my bowling capacity for the most important games. The World Cups are coming. A more crucial series is coming. Whenever it is required,” he said in a post-match conference.
He also specified that he was looking at a long-term plan. “I am thinking like a long-term plan, not short term where I exhaust myself and maybe have something else [injury] which is not there. So it is going to be a process, which I am following. I can’t tell you exactly when I am going to bowl but the process is on. In the nets, I am bowling. It is just that I am not game-ready but I am bowling. It is all about confidence and the skill has to be at an international level,” he said.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)