After bundling on a low score of 107 in a rain hit test match, India are finding it hard to eke out a way to find the equalizer in the series. Their fast bowlers tried to fumble the English batting line-up but a 189 run stand between Yorkshire man Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes ensured the match slipped away from India. With a 250 runs healthy lead, England look the favourite to win the test match and take a 2-0 lead. India, on the other hand will be relying on their batters to do the job and pull out a draw that will surely prove to be a morale booster. The Virat Kohli’s men will also pray that rain gods bless them if they stand any chance to close out on a draw.
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India’s decision of sidelining Umesh Yadav and picking chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav plucked a wide debate on his selection. The man from Kanpur failed to impress and went wicketless after conceeding 44 runs in 9 overs. England are 357/6 and he can still pick four wickets to have a last laugh. But it still looks uncertain considering that the conditions are favouring the pacers.
Hardik Pandya has come ahead and opened about the Kuldeep’s inclusion in the side.
We gave whatever we had to give- Pandya
“Obviously the team management had some thought behind it (Inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav). I don’t get into that too much. I think three pacers (including him) were enough to be honest. We did enough and we bowled properly. We gave whatever we had to give. As I told you, today’s wicket was the wicket we expected and it was a proper call.” Pandya said.
Pandya further said if this was a five day game, spinners would come handy. But the rain ensured that there were no footmarks and it didn’t gripped off the surface. He opinioned if that was a five day game, things would have been different.
On his role in the team
Hardik Pandya’s performance has not been that graceful which has raised question on his ability. He has been questioned if he’s a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder. However, the Baroda man was quick to define his role and said that his emphasis is on to bowl the tight lines and wait for the batsman to do the mistake. He asserted that he does not try too much of variety.
“I don’t have any one particular role. I’m a batsman when I’m batting, bowler when I’m bowling. That’s my role, to keep it right and try to make sure that the batsman makes mistakes rather than me trying out too many stuff. We know that they love to play shots and when you’re doing that you tend to make a few errors,” Pandya said.
