Here's what Virat Kohli-led Team India coach Ravi Shastri said about Hardik Pandya
Nagpur: Indian cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri, who is yet to lose a series since taking over from Anil Kumble as Virat Kohli-led side’s head coach, praised Hardik Pandya after India clinched the five-match ODI series against Australia 4-1 here on Sunday.
While Hardik did not get a chance to swing his arms in the fifth ODI, the all-rounder won the Man of The Series award. The Baroda and Mumbai Indians cricketer scored 222 runs, including two fifties, and scalped six wickets as he played a pivotal part in India’s dominance over Steve Smith and co.
Pandya scored a whirlwind 83 as he and MS Dhoni rescued India after a shaky start in the first ODI of the series.
The youngster once again came to the party in the Indore ODI and scored 78 after being promoted to number 4 ahead of MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey.
Kohli had then said that it was Shastri’s idea to promote Pandya as he can hit the spinners and take them out of the attack.
Shastri, on Sunday, lauded Pandya for his big-hitting abilities and said that he can clear any ground in the world with his power-packed strokes.
"He (Hardik) is a dangerous guy. He can be a floater in the batting order – tremendous striker of the ball, especially when he hits spinners. I have not seen too many players strike against spinners like that. Yuvraj Singh in his hey days may be. This guy can clear any ground in the world, be it second ball, third ball. It's the exuberance of youth," said Shastri on Pandya’s promotion in the third ODI.
Shastri, like Kohli, made it clear that relentless is a key to success.
"If you have got to be a good team, you have to be relentless. You have got to repeat what you did on Tuesday on Friday, and then on Sunday, and then on Tuesday again," said Shastri.
While India chased down a 290-plus total in Indore, Shastri felt chasing 243 on a difficult Nagpur track at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha was India’s best effort while chasing in the series.
"We saved best batting for the last. It wasn't an easy track to bat on and the 'hitman' (Rohit's nickname) made it look so easy. It was a treat to the eye. The way the guys showed character once again when Australia were 60 for no loss. We were staring at 275-280 but all the bowlers chipped in and got team right back in the match," added the Indian men’s cricket team coach.
Shastri also revealed why India brought back Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah in place on Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami for the final ODI of the series.
"They (Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah) have tremendous, skills. That's why we brought both of them back in the side. When we saw the track, it demanded skills. It's a big ground and you might go for runs with new ball. But when you have bowlers like them, they can bring you back in the game. They complement each other, they have got varieties galore and their actions are different and vastly experienced," said Shastri.
While Shastri was gung-ho about India’s series-winning performance, he made it clear that India will have to improve their fielding and one of the top order players to score a biggie after being settled down.
"We have to raise the bar in fielding. We need to seize the initiative in an even bigger way in certain situations. One player when he gets into 60's and 70's, should convert and that's what Rohit (Sharma) did today," Shastri concluded.
