“We Must Wrap Him in a Cotton Wool and Used Him”: Sunil Gavaskar Warned the Indian Coaching Staff Over the Workload Management of Hardik Pandya

The great Sunil Gavaskar alarmed the Indian coaching staff over the workload management of the injury susceptible Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder finally backs in the Indian team after a long time of 3 years, so it becomes crucial to handle him with proper care. In the year 2018, Hardik Pandya got injured in the Asia Cup tournament and later went through a severe back surgery. Due to which he couldn’t play cricket for three years and couldn’t bowl for almost one year even after getting rehabilitated properly.

So, it becomes a natural thing to handle him gently and also used him in the matches which are actually important in the context of any international series or ICC tournaments. Since his return to international cricket Hardik Pandya has made enormous contributions with the ball and bat, which helped the Indian team in winning crucial matches against England, Sri Lanka and West Indies. In an interaction with India today, Sunil Gavaskar warned the Indian think tank over the vulnerability of Hardik Pandya and also his importance in the upcoming ICC fixtures for India.

Along with Hardik Pandya many susceptible players like Jasprit bu6mrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and KL Rahul must be only used occasions where there skills are highly needed. KL Rahul also made a come back in the Asia Cup 2022 after long sustaining hamstring injury. Rahul was the highest run scorer in the 4 test matches that played in 2021, between India and England.

As per the latest reports the Indian team management is planning to bring back Hardik Pandya in the test matches also, which won’t be a proper move to make . Because nowadays he is in total doubt about bowling 10-overs in one day game, so serving the team with more than 20 overs in a day will almost impossible for him in test matches.

Also this is the most important thing to keep Hardik Pandya for only the limited overs cricket for at least two more years. His fitness will be very crucial for team India in the 50 over World Cup and ICC Champions trophy which will happen in the year 2023.

Gavaskar said, “It has been a few months since he has returned from a back injury. So, we must wrap him in a cotton wool and use him because he can be our match-winner with the bat, with the ball. So, we must use him judiciously. Don’t forget, at mid-off, he affects some electrifying runouts as well”.

Further he mentioned, “Direct hits at the bowler’s end, catching the batter inches short. It’s not just the bowling and the batting aspects of Hardik Pandya, the fielding aspect that could turn the game India’s way. Yes, I think he could possibly do what Ravi Shastri did in 1985 where Ravi was the outstanding performer with both bat and ball in the entire tournament. Some good catches as well. Hardik Pandya is capable of doing that.”

Also Read: Yuzi Chahal Is The Only Wicket-Taker, Other Are Defensive: Former Indian opener pointed out major flaw in the spin bowling department of India