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Wasim Jaffer raised questions on the selection of Suryansh Shedge: India’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Ireland in the recent T20 series has raised many questions whether this young team is ready for tough challenges. As India prepare to play five T20 matches in England next month, the Men in Blue are under immense pressure, and Hardik Pandya is back in the news.
After the 0-2 T20 series loss to Ireland, former India batsman Wasim Jaffer said that the biggest difference between the two teams was that the Men in Blue did not have a genuine fast bowling all-rounder like Hardik Pandya, who is currently recovering from injury.
Wasim Jaffer makes bold Hardik Pandya claim on India’s Ireland tour failure
Wasim Jaffer feels that Hardik Pandya’s role in the Indian team is bigger than many people think. He is not just a finisher with the bat. He also bowls important overs, sometimes starts the bowling attack with the new ball and is a big option whenever the team needs success.
In Ireland, India tried out young Suryansh Shedge in the second and final T20I and Jaffer said it is unfair to expect the 23-year-old to do the same thing as Hardik at this stage of his career. He stressed that Suryansh is not yet ready to bowl a full spell of three or four overs in international cricket.
Talking about Nitish Kumar Reddy, the cricket pundit said that the all-rounder has talent, but he has not yet reached the level where he can replace a match-winner like Hardik Pandya.
Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube channel, “We have seen Hardik taking the new ball many times. He gives you at least three overs and plays the role of a finisher. That is what the team is missing. You are playing Suryansh, but at the moment he does not have the ability to bowl 3-4 overs.”
“Even Nitish. He is not of that caliber at the moment. So India are definitely missing Hardik. I think the fast bowlers will have to step up and the batsmen will also have to compensate for that and beat the opposition.”
Wasim Jaffer reveals the only positive from India’s tour of Ireland
However, Jaffer was happy with Harshit Rana’s performance on his return. Harshit finished the two-match T20I series in Ireland with four wickets in two matches while scoring some useful runs for India down the order. He was also influenced by Prince Yadav.
The young fast bowler made his T20I debut in the second game and took three wickets. Jaffer believes that Prince made good use of his opportunity and showed that he has the talent to succeed at this level. But Jaffer said India “did not perform collectively” and the batting was poor.
He said, “Harshit came back and bowled well and also batted well. You can see the improvement in him and it is visible. You can trust him to bat at number eight and nine. In both these matches, he has been successful and positive without any doubt.”
Wasim Jaffer says England will target India’s biggest weakness in the absence of Hardik Pandya
Ahead of the first T20I on 1 July, Jaffer warned India that the England series would be very tough for them, and that they would miss Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. However, Varun Chakravarthy joined Team India ahead of the first T20I against England in Durham.
Jaffer said, “England will definitely be a tough challenge. After the Ireland series, England will also be confident that they can beat India. There are flaws in this, because there is no Bumrah and Hardik. Two important players. Someone else will have to fill their place. The England series will be even tougher. I hope that after this warning, India will start giving their best performance.”