5 Indian players who should play county cricket ahead of England tour

Hardik Pandya

South Africa v India - 2nd Test, Day 1

The inclusion of Hardik Pandya into the Test side has clearly sent a strong message that India are ready to sacrifice an extra batsman and go with an all-rounder. The lanky lad from Vadodara didn’t have a bad start to his Test career. He played a pivotal role in the Test series against South Africa and scored runs in the opening Test match whilst also chipping in with wickets to break crucial partnerships.

However, if India need to stick with him in the longer run, the 24-year-old has to improve his skill set with the bat. Pandya provides a decent option for the captain as a bowler, but in desperate situations, he has to come good with the bat and bail out his team. Getting involved in county cricket at this very young age will pay rich dividends for him and it will help him gather experience which will help him in the future.