ICC World Cup 2019: Who should India choose between Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar?

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

After the great all-rounder Kapil Dev, India appears to have finally discovered a genuine pace bowling all-rounder in Hardik. He has been a vital player for India since making his international debut in 2016.

Let’s review what works and what does not in his favour.

Experience

A high intense cricketing event, the ICC World Cup 2019 does not only require skills but also temperament and pressure handling, and it comes only with time. As of now, he has been a part of close to 100 International matches (11 Tests, 45 ODIs, 38 T20Is) and though, it may not look that many when compared against the likes of MS Dhoni (528 International matches) or Virat Kohli (368 International matches), but it is still is a good number of matches to learn the art of excelling in international cricket.

Pace bowling

His medium pace bowling gives India the much-needed 3rd/4th pace bowling option in seaming conditions in England. Considering the fact that the pitches are expected to suit the pacers more often than not, his contribution could be extremely vital in winning the games. More importantly, his inclusions will allow the team management to play their preferred bowling unit.

Aggressive batting

Another element he brings into the team is his aggressive batting style. Not only does he strengthen the lower-middle order but his destructive batting trait promises to give India a flying finish in the last few overs.

Lacks consistency

Though he has displayed potential, he has only managed to transform it into performance every now and then. The Baroda player lacks consistency, and it definitely is an area to work on. Without a doubt, his inconsistency is a big concern moving towards the mega event.

Frequent back injury

The ICC World Cup 2019 is a long intense tournament and will require every player to be at their peak of fitness level to deliver match-winning performances. Being an all-rounder, he is expected to be one of the fittest. But unfortunately, Hardik’s frequent back issues in the past 6 months is a big worry for the team management. Any injury during the marquee event will be a major setback and will have an adverse impact on India’s chances of winning the tournament.