5 reasons why Hardik Pandya should bowl more in Test cricket

The swashbuckling Hardik Pandya has been plying his trade for India for quite some time now. With the passage of time, he has developed himself into an integral part of the ODI and T20 teams. With sterling performances on the international circuit, Pandya has shown enough promise to be deemed a quality cricketer.

Recently, in India’s first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, the Baroda-born cricketer made his Test debut. He impressed with the bat, but bowled only 10 overs in the entire game. Going forward, he has the potential to be a useful bowler in 5-Day cricket.

In our article, we take a look at five reasons why Hardik Pandya should bowl more often in Test cricket.

#5 Prospect of playing an extra pacer in foreign conditions

India often plays Test cricket outside the subcontinent where pitches are conducive to fast-bowling. In countries like South Africa, England, Australia and New Zealand, the decks are tailored as per the strengths of their team’s bowling, which is fast-bowling.

However, apart from the pitch assisting the pacers, the fast-bowlers also need to be equipped enough to reap benefits out of the favourable conditions. Hardik Pandya has all the skills in his repertoire, but he needs to bowl frequently in Test cricket to grind himself as a pacer.

He can also crank up the pace with the ball to a large extent, which can be a handful in non-sub-continent conditions, where a lot depends on how the pacers perform.

#4 Reduction in workload of pacers

On numerous occasions, it has been seen that due to lack of back-up pacers, teams go on to lose momentum. The part-timers go for runs, which tends to undo all the good work done by the main fast-bowlers.

The pressure, as a result, is difficult to build with batsmen finding it easy from the end where the part-timers are operating. Also fatigue catches up with the fast-bowlers as they get overloaded with the responsibility of bowling long spells.

If Pandya develops himself into a potent force with the ball in Test cricket, then he can share the work-load of the pace attack and also provide apt support to his fellow pacers. In addition, he can also carry on the momentum created by the main pacers of the team.

#3 He could improve on his pace and complement the swing bowlers

Test cricket demands a tremendous level of temperament and discipline in every facet on part of the cricketers. It not only tests a cricketer’s temperament, but also helps them become more disciplined and matured as a player.

Pandya is predominantly a bowler who likes to hit the back of a length and bowl a tad shorter than his teammates. India has swing bowlers in Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav who believes in getting the ball to swing.

If Pandya works on his pace, then it can complement swing bowling to a large extent. The more Pandya bowls in Test cricket, the faster he will get in terms of pace which will add variety to the pace bowling department and strengthen the attack.

#2 India can afford to play three spinners

Traditionally, India has been a cricketing nation, which has depended heavily upon its spinners especially in the sub-continent. Spin has arguably been India’s area of strength and the records of spinners like Erapalli Prasanna, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin proves it.

India mostly prefers playing a couple of spinners and three fast bowlers in Test matches. Pandya’s addition into the Test setup might just work wonders for India.

If Pandya puts together more overs as a fast bowler, then India can play to their strength and get in an extra specialist spinner. While it will be a delight for India, it presents ominous signs for their opponents.

#1 Extra batsman leads balance to the side

In the past, we have seen all-rounders like Chris Cairns, Andrew Flintoff and Jacques Kallis enthrall the cricket world with their stupendous all-round abilities. In the last couple of years, India have found a talent in Hardik Pandya, who is excellent with the bat and more than handy with the ball.

If Pandya bowls on a regular basis in Test cricket, then he can feature among the main pacers of the team. India already has Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja as the all-rounders and Pandya’s role will add to the strength of their line-up.

With Pandya taking a fair share of the bowling responsibility, India can afford to play an extra batsman, which will inject depth into the batting line up. If one of the pacers gets injured, leaves a series midway or is going through a rough patch, then Pandya can also shoulder this responsibility.