India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is yet to fire with the bat in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka. While he didn’t get a chance to bat in the series-opener, Hardik failed to get going in the second ODI and was dismissed for a duck. He has also contributed with the ball in the series but has looked far from his best as a bowler.
Former India cricketer and popular commentator Aakash Chopra recently gave his take on Hardik’s struggles with the ball and said the all-rounder doesn’t look in complete rhythm as a bowler. Hardik last bowled for India during the England series at home but stayed away from bowling for Mumbai Indians during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
His back issues have hindered his progress as a bowler and kept him away from Test cricket as well. However, the all-rounder bowled five overs in the first ODI against Sri Lanka on the ongoing tour and followed it up with another four overs in the second ODI. He has so far bowled a total of nine overs in two ODIs and has picked up one wicket.
Speaking of Hardik – the bowler, Chopra said the all-rounder doesn’t look in form and it is not easy to judge if he is completely fit to bowl or not.
“It doesn’t seem like (Whether Hardik Pandya is bowling fit.). Is it the form or fitness its tough to say for us from here. He hasn’t bowled for a long time. He bowled 2-4 overs against England (earlier in the year). He hasn’t bowled since, then. Didn’t bowl in the IPL either. He has almost made himself unavailable from Test cricket,” Chopra said on ESPN Cricinfo.
“It’s tough to judge him like this but he doesn’t look in form that’s for sure. He is not in rhythm, he’s bowling no-balls and it happens when you don’t have that bowling-related game time. Whether he is fit or not, only he can answer on how his body is responding. As a bowler, Hardik Pandya is not in form,” he added.
