Should or shouldn’t Hardik Pandya, the batsman, be part of the XI? While captain Virat Kohli’s reliance on the all-rounder remains undiminished since he adds “value to the team”, Pandya’s inability to bowl has disturbed the balance of the side.

Even BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has acknowledged the importance of a sixth bowler in this team, Kohli’s adamant stance notwithstanding. It’s almost certain that Pandya will play against New Zealand on Sunday. He bowled in the nets in Dubai on Wednesday but it’s unlikely he will rush himself in a match.

The ploy to include only five specialist bowlers restricts India’s options in a highly unpredictable format like T20. Most successful sides keep this extra bowler option in the team. It was evident during the opener against Pakistan when at least three frontline bowlers got carted around and there was none to fall back on.

The only choice available was Kohli trying himself out for an over, having done so in a warm-up game. The last time the India captain bowled in a T20I was in the 2016 semi-final against West Indies, which India lost. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had tried him out for 1.4 overs as three of his specialists had proven to be expensive. There’s nothing to suggest, however, that Kohli’s bowling has improved during this period.

Dhoni is mentor of this side but can hardly force a decision on Kohli. The mentor can offer suggestions but the ultimate authority rests with the captain.

Having lost to Pakistan, India face a must-win situation against Kane Williamson’s team. A loss can ruin their chances of making the semi-finals. The likes of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson are capable of reviving memories of Shaheen Shah Afridi’s devastating spell.

India have never been able to defeat New Zealand in an ICC limited overs tournament since Sourav’s men triumphed in the 2003 World Cup.

It’s a mystery why Pandya continues to be part of the squad though chief selector Chetan Sharma had promised he will bowl during the World Cup. A niggle on his lower back, which required surgery in 2019, has prevented him from bowling since this IPL. It reached a stage where the Mumbai Indians were forced to rest him for a couple of matches once the tournament resumed in the UAE.

Yet he found a place in the XV because Kohli felt “what he brings at that No. 6 spot is something that you just can’t create overnight”. He has failed miserably even with the bat in this IPL — 127 runs in 11 innings.

The comments emanating from the Indian camp have also been interesting. While Rohit Sharma maintained “it’ll be a while before he starts to bowl”, Kohli remarked he will “bowl at least two overs for us at a certain stage in this tournament”. Pandya broke his silence on the day of the Pakistan match, saying, “I want to be able to bowl eventually, closer to the knockouts.”

None, however, set a timeframe on when exactly he would resume bowling.

Pandya’s performance has dipped drastically since the limited over series in Australia in November-December 2020. In the ODIs against England at home, he aggregated 95 runs in three matches and bowled nine overs. In the T20Is that followed, he scored 86 in four innings and picked up three wickets from 17 overs in five matches.

He fared no better in Sri Lanka — 19 runs in two ODIs while picking up one wicket in 18 overs at an economy of 3.50. In the only T20I he played, Pandya hit 10 and managed one wicket in two overs at an economy of 8.50.

Shardul Thakur can always be considered a suitable replacement under the circumstances but Kohli will make us believe that Pandya, whatever his form, is indispensable. The wait will continue for him to reach such heights.

head-to-head

India have never won against New Zealand in ICC limited overs tournaments since the Sourav Ganguly-led team defeated Stephen Fleming’s side by seven wickets in the 2003 World Cup. Here’s a look at the results between the two teams since their clash in Centurion:

• In World T20: India lost by 10 runs in Jo’burg, Sept. 16, 2007
• In World T20: India lost by 47 runs in Nagpur, March 15, 2016
• In World Cup (50-over) semi-final: India lost by 18 runs in Manchester, July 4, 2019

Mohandas Menon