With two defeats in the first three T20Is against England, the Indian cricket team has had plenty of questions to answer. While many have questioned the changes that have been brought in the line-up in the three matches, former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja feels certain players, including Hardik Pandya, are not batting in their ideal position.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Jadeja highlighted how big a power-hitter Hardik is and hinted that it would be better to use him a little higher up in the batting order rather than at No. 6 or No. 7.
“I feel some players are not playing in their ideal positions. For example, I am a big fan of how Hardik Pandya plays his game. When he came out to bat, look at the England bowlers who had overs left. Archer, Wood, and an over or two of someone else,” said Jadeja.
The ex-India batsman feels it is better when a batsman of the capability of Hardik is put up against the mid-overs bowlers Chris Jordan or Sam Curran. Such a situation allows India the opportunity to target the ‘weaker’ bowlers in the England line-up and hence gives them the platform to score maximum runs before the mainstream bowlers like Jofra Archer or Mark Wood return to the fore.
“There is no team who have five frontline bowlers. You will always have one bowler who’s slightly weaker than the others. India need to understand which batsman will give them the maximum returns when they come up against a particular bowler,” said Jadeja.
“You know the pace at which Hardik Pandya bats when he’s having a good day. You have to think whether you want to up the ante when your batsmen are facing Archer or Wood, or when someone like Jordan or Sam Curran is bowling. That’s why I feel India’s current batting lineup isn’t in their best interest,” he added.
