Indian Commentator said that Hardik Pandya is a definite pick as the number 6 batsman in India’s ODI World Cup 2023 team because of his all-round potential. The quadrangular global event will be played in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023. Team India are currently in West Indies for a three-match ODI series, with Hardik Pandya being one of the all-rounders in their team. Aakash Chopra discussed India’s possible middle-order option for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul as the best candidates for the No.4 and No.5 positions, but he picked Hardik Pandya at No.6, and said;
“Then I will say Hardik at No. 6 because your story at four, five and six looks solid. There are no question marks over Hardik’s availability. The only question over Hardik is how much bowling fit he is. If he is bowling, [he] walks into the team any which way.”
However, the Former Indian opener opined that it could be an issue if the seam-bowling all-rounder is not enough to bowl, and he said;
“However, if he is not bowling, there is a concern about who will be the sixth bowling option. You can play five bowlers after the No. 6, but you need a sixth bowling option.”
Hardik Pandya has made 1584 runs in 55 ODI innings at a good average of 33.00. He has also taken 72 wickets in 69 innings at an economy rate of 5.61.
“Hardik Pandya Is a Very, Very Important Cog in India’s Scheme of Things” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Hardik Pandya brings a unique skill set to the table for team India, he explaining;
“The balance Hardik Pandya provides, unfortunately, no one will be able to do that because whether it is Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav or anyone else, no one bowls. So Hardik Pandya is a very, very important cog in India’s scheme of things.”
Indian Commentator Aakash Chopra named Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul as the best backup for Team India. Regarding Ruturaj Gaikwad he said;
“You don’t have too many options in the middle order. If you see Ruturaj Gaikwad as a dark horse, he is an opener and at the most, you will play him at No. 3 and there is no place there in any case. He is anyway the captain for the Asian Games, which means he is not in your thoughts in any case.”
Aakash Chopra also said that Yashasvi Jaiswal who is also an opening batsman, has just started his career and he is not even a part of the ODI Team for the West Indies tour. He said that Deepak Hooda is unlikely to figure in the minds of the selectors and the team management due to his poor performance.
