4 questions India need to address ahead of the Test series against England

#4 How important will be Hardik Pandya in the team?

Should Hardik Pandya make the playing XI against England at Edgbaston?

The reason Hardik Pandya is in the squad is because he can contribute both with the ball and the bat. In subcontinent conditions where pitches are batsmen friendly, Pandya’s role as a 5th bowler who can give the strike bowlers time to recuperate, is crucial and he can chip in with a few runs down the order as well.

But on bowler-friendly pitches, Pandya’s batting flaws will be easily found-out and hence his selection will be down to how useful he can be with the ball. Unless he can produce that odd wicket, it’s fair to say, he will be a liability in these conditions and therefore, India should consider going in with an extra batsman instead.

However, the all-rounder has the trust of captain Kohli which is why he featured in all the three test matches in South Africa, and it’s highly likely that he makes the playing XI this time as well.