In the third T20I of the five-match series between England and India, the host nation succumbed to a 26-run defeat. The match, played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, saw India falter in their chase of England’s total. Despite a valiant effort from Hardik Pandya, who top-scored for India, former Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel criticized Pandya’s slow start and failure to rotate the strike effectively.
Hardik Pandya’s knock and dismissal
In the penultimate over of India’s chase, the pressure was mounting as the required run rate soared. With 41 runs needed from just 12 balls, Pandya attempted to accelerate the chase but was dismissed by Jamie Overton. The England pacer bowled a full delivery aimed at the stumps, and Pandya, looking to clear the long-off boundary, lost his shape while executing an aerial lofted shot. The ball found the safe hands of England’s captain, Jos Buttler, ending Pandya’s innings at 40 runs off 35 balls. His knock included one four and two sixes.
Parthiv Patel criticizes Pandya’s approach
former Indian batter Patel criticized Pandya’s slow start in the chase, stating that taking 20-25 balls to settle created unnecessary pressure on the other Indian batters. He emphasized that while it’s fine not to play big shots, it’s important to rotate the strike and avoid playing multiple dot balls in a row.
“I thought when you are taking your time you want to get used to the pace and bounce of the pitch. But you cannot take 20-25 balls to get settled. So that put pressure on the other batters as well. If you don’t want to play those big shots, that’s okay, but you still have to keep on rotating the strike. You can’t play three or four dot balls in a row,” Parthiv told Star Sports.
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The impact of dot balls: Patel calls for more rotation of strike
Patel highlighted the importance of Pandya rotating the strike effectively, even when not hitting big shots early. He pointed out that failing to find singles during a crucial chase adds pressure on other batters. The left-hand batter also noted that while Pandya might score 40 off 34 balls, the number of dot balls in his innings can create unnecessary pressure on teammates, suggesting that India should focus on maintaining good strike rotation.
“And you might just see Hardik Pandya scoring 40 off 34 balls, but there are a number of dots in his innings that put pressure on the other batters as well. So, I think that’s something which India can think of. You take your time. Yes, it’s a low score, but you still have to keep rotating the strike as well with it,” the former opener concluded.
