All-rounder Hardik Pandya is one of India’s key players in the T20 World Cup.
He played brilliantly against Pakistan in the Super 12 match, taking three wickets and then smashing a 40-run knock.
His 113-run stand for the fifth wicket with Virat Kohli helped India down Pakistan in a nail-biting contest.
After the match, there were rumours that Hardik might be rested for the match against the Netherlands.
After all, Pandya came back from a back injury before the IPL and there are concerns regarding his fitness.
However, these rumours were quashed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
Mhambrey said, “We are not going to rest anyone. I think we have momentum going in the tournament, you need individuals to be in the form as well.”
“Some haven’t gotten an opportunity to like bat, so it is important for them to have game time. Hardik wants to play all matches.”
“He is an important player for us, he is bowling as well as batting for us. Other than that, his attitude on the ground like in the last match he played a crucial innings.”
Mhambrey added, “Yes, Virat finished the match for us but at such a stage if you want an experienced player to take the match to the end then the pressure will obviously shift on the opposition. So, I think Hardik deserves a lot of credit for Virat’s performance.”
“When he went in to bat the conditions were different I think 4 wickets had already fallen. It was not an easy phase. I think the experience that Hardik brings in is irreplaceable,” he added.
Mhambrey also singled out left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh for praise.
Arshdeep returned with a three-wicket haul, including the key wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
“If we follow Arshdeep for the last couple of years, looking at the way he’s performed I think the one thing that stands out with that kid is his ability to build pressure.”
“He did hard work in IPL and he is doing hard work in different phases he bowls (for India) that is the powerplay and then death overs.”
“The composure he has shown, the clarity of thought process. He is a great kid. I think there will be ups and downs in his career but the way he has come back after Asia Cup, and his ability to handle pressure is phenomenal and I am not really surprised by the way he bowled in the first game.”
“We have a lot of confidence in him and he has a good future.”
