As India gets ready for the final face off with Australia for the T201 series with the lead of 2-1. The former batting coach of India Abhishek Nayar opined about Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube with a comparison after Dube scored 22 off 18 balls and picked up two crucial wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Tim David.
Abhishek Nayar’s Statement
“We always say that Hardik Pandya is the kind of all-rounder that India requires. But game after game, Shivam Dube has shown that he can be that all-rounder as well. You don’t really feel the absence of Hardik Pandya because Shivam bowls important overs, takes key wickets, and contributes with the bat in different situations,” Nayar said on JioStar’s post-match show Cricket Live.
Also Read: Hong Kong Sixes: India fails miserably, gets defeated by Kuwait, UAE and Nepal
“Today again, he scored crucial runs and took two big wickets when Australia were looking to accelerate,” Nayar added. “Whenever he has been challenged by this Indian team management, he has come up with flying colours. He may not be tagged as ‘the all-rounder’, but he does everything that an Indian all-rounder needs to do,” he added.
Why Did Abhishek Nayar Says Team Not Missing Hardik Pandya
Abhishek Nayar has already complimented Shivam Dube on a brilliant all-round performance and said that the absence of Hardik Pandya is not being felt within the Indian team Dube has done a marvellous job in the absence of Hardik, who was out of action as a result of injury since the Asia Cup in September. The balance that India needs has been given by his effective bowling and powerful batting. Following the victory of India by 48 runs over Australia in the fourth T20I after which Dube stated that the team total was competitive considering the size of the ground and that the bowlers had implemented their plans to the letter thus helping India to the win the game easily.
