Hardik Pandya should bat in top 4

[Gollum]

Since he won't be bowling for a few months, how about him batting at #3 or #4. Our top order is so monotonous, he could provide much needed impetus.....we used to show more dynamic batting in late 2000s. Also will help him learn how to build an innings, how to better play the new ball against fresh quicks. Even if it doesn't work out or he has to drop down later due to bowling workload, the experience will be helpful for our chances in case of top order collapses in future ICC events. Since by then HP will be more accustomed to playing the new ball and weathering early storm, pacing his innings, manipulating the field (strike rotation is an area where he can improve, will make him even more devastating), scoring 100s and all that. He has the talent, doesn't fear pace/bounce, unselfish...at the moment reduced to quickfire cameos or going for impossible targets after top order collapse, not the best way to groom a guy like him. 

 

Kohli may never let go of his cherished #3 spot but no reason why Pandya can't get an extended run at #4, and also at #3 when Kohli isn't in playing XI. Heck I say even make him open a few times (especially in Asian conditions) and see how it works. 

Edited November 27, 2020 by Gollum

[zen]

Looking at SDP’s unique talent, I had recommended that he be played in tests too to develop his batting further .... Avgs 60+ in Asia (w/ a 100 in SL). Outside of Asia, he hit that brilliant 90 in SA and 50 odd in Eng (if Ind had persisted with him, he could have improved more as a batsman by now)

[Ankit_sharma03]

• Saying from long he shud be batting at 5 but who will do the tough job at 6,7 ....coz none of our batsman is a specialist hitter and it is a specialist job which many dont understand here. This was the reason Dhoni didnt bat at 4-5 when he cud have easily done that 
• Sad reality is 5th bowling makes guys like jaddu our 2nd best option and his s.r is 82 at 7
• MAxwell again showed today why power hitter are must he basically finished the game for India right there itself, Pandya did same to aus in Wc . When total is 350+ 98% chance opp wont win 
• India needs pant and samad to come good and hardik to be bowling soon 

[Gollum]

Poll added

 

Talking only about ODIs here. I think in T20s we have others like SKY, Ishan, Pant, Samson, Mayank....Pandya won't gain much by batting in top there (not much scope for improving skills against new ball, learning to build innings etc, just the nature of that format) and moreover he adds a lot of value at #5/6....unique skills which very few have.

Edited November 27, 2020 by Gollum

[rkt.india]

Pandya is fine at either 5 or 6

Edited November 27, 2020 by rkt.india

[Real McCoy]

As much as he can bat in the top, he's more suited down the order say 5/6. He showed today he can hit faster bowlers to the boundary and there is no lower order batsmen with the SR and the capability that he has. In years past, we had Yuvraj, Dhoni and Raina at 5-7 with Harbhajan providing some useful runs at 8. Now we have batsmen who cant bowl and bowlers who cant bat. Saini at 8 is good but need to get rid of Jaddu as quick as possible. With the T20 WC in Aus next year, if he is played, I'm sure he will lay an egg there.

[Gollum]

7 minutes ago, Ankit_sharma03 said:

• Saying from long he shud be batting at 5 but who will do the tough job at 6,7 ....coz none of our batsman is a specialist hitter and it is a specialist job which many dont understand here. This was the reason Dhoni didnt bat at 4-5 when he cud have easily done that 
• Sad reality is 5th bowling makes guys like jaddu our 2nd best option and his s.r is 82 at 7
• MAxwell again showed today why power hitter are must he basically finished the game for India right there itself, Pandya did same to aus in Wc . When total is 350+ 98% chance opp wont win 
• India needs pant and samad to come good and hardik to be bowling soon 

Needn't be permanent, more about making Pandya a well-rounded player, think of it like finishing school for him, atm reduced to a basher but he can be so much more than that. When he starts bowling again, he can be shifted to #6.

 

Imagine 2023 SF against Aus/Eng/NZ, us reduced to 60/4, don't you think HP with a couple of years of batting at #3 or #4 will be better placed to handle the situation. He can learn what DK could never....how to build an innings with many overs left. 

[putrevus]

He is no 7.Any higher he would not be making team stronger.Stop making him better than he actually is,

[Ankit_sharma03]

6 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Needn't be permanent, more about making Pandya a well-rounded player, think of it like finishing school for him, atm reduced to a basher but he can be so much more than that. When he starts bowling again, he can be shifted to #6.

 

Imagine 2023 SF against Aus/Eng/NZ, us reduced to 60/4, don't you think HP with a couple of years of batting at #3 or #4 will be better placed to handle the situation. He can learn what DK could never....how to build an innings with many overs left. 

 

ok fair enough for time being but then also ill bat rahul ahead of him and pandya at 5

Considering pandya avg 60 against aus with almost runs in every game against them yea he can be promoted but in long term that 6,7 is an issue 

[jusarrived]

Somehow need to break the top3 of Dhawan-Rohit-Virat . This is the worst thing to have happened to indian cricket, we are not winning anything until this is our top order .

[putrevus]

6 minutes ago, jusarrived said:

Somehow need to break the top3 of Dhawan-Rohit-Virat . This is the worst thing to have happened to indian cricket, we are not winning anything until this is our top order .

How is it their fault  if others cannot bat.Why you want to break one good thing about Indian batting.

[Ankit_sharma03]

7 minutes ago, jusarrived said:

Somehow need to break the top3 of Dhawan-Rohit-Virat . This is the worst thing to have happened to indian cricket, we are not winning anything until this is our top order .

 

least of our problem im happy they are failing and getting injured As last series iyer-rahul came to resucue and today pandya 

[jusarrived]

Just now, putrevus said:

How is it their fault  if others cannot bat.Why you want to break one good thing about Indian batting.

There is nothing good about them expect for bloated personal stats and statistically every batsmen is doing well not just these three. India has not won anything worthwhile in last few years, the seniors and superstars in the lineup should not take any name for it ?

[jusarrived]

8 minutes ago, Banton said:

Do you want virat to bat at 4?

yes for multiple reasons .

Hes has no impact at 3 for few years now.

Can give a youngsters a shot at easier top order bat.

Need experience down the Oder if we have to chase big targets

[putrevus]

9 minutes ago, jusarrived said:

There is nothing good about them expect for bloated personal stats and statistically every batsmen is doing well not just these three. India has not won anything worthwhile in last few years, the seniors and superstars in the lineup should not take any name for it ?

India has not won worthwhile because India has been one dimesional team. It is these three guys which are taking them to semi finals or knockout stages.

 

Nobody stopped Mayank Aggrawal /Rahul/Iyer to score 100s today. That is how you build your resume.

 

Kohli was not given number 3 spot, he got there by scoring runs. Rohit after becoming an opener has not looked back. Stop mixing things .They are scoring runs because they are very good. They need support in knockout matches.

Edited November 27, 2020 by putrevus

[SK_IH]

Let's not start fiddling with no.4 again. Iyer should continue & Hardik at 6 is good. I was most disappointed with Dhawan's dismissal, he never looked in control despite scoring a 50. I expected a 100 from him tonight.

Mayank was a welcome addition today, he played for the team & got out.

[Straight Drive]

4 is too high a batting position for him.

 

He averages 31. No Indian player with that batting average (below 40) must be given to bat in top 5. Let him develop his batting at 6. It's a shame we do not have any good consistent batsmen and we have to look for batsmen averaging 31 to bat in specialist batsman position. Rahul and Iyer should be raising their game and take those spots with big scores. 

 

Pandya is a handy batsman but you can't bat batsmen with such below par  average at specialist batsmen position.

[coffee_rules]

He should come in at 3 replacing near to-be Daddy 

[jusarrived]

2 minutes ago, putrevus said:

India has not won worthwhile because India has been one dimesional team. It is these three guys which are taking them to semi finals or knockout stages.

 

Nobody stopped Mayank Aggrawal /Rahul/Iyer to score 100s today. That is how you build you resume.

 

Kohli was not given number 3 spot, he got there by scoring runs. Rohit after becoming an opener has not looked back. Stop mixing things .They are scoring runs because they are very good. They need support in knockout matches.

 

We reached WC semis of a sport which has 3 decent teams ? These guys must be seriously good in that case 

[Gollum]

7 minutes ago, Straight Drive said:

4 is too high a batting position for him.

 

He averages 31. No Indian player with that batting average (below 40) must be given to bat in top 5. Let him develop his batting at 6. It's a shame we do not have any good consistent batsmen and we have to look for batsmen averaging 31 to bat in specialist batsman position. Rahul and Iyer should be raising their game and take those spots with big scores. 

 

Pandya is a handy batsman but you can't bat batsmen with such below par  average at specialist batsmen position.

Easier to average high in top order. The position Pandya bats, he has to mostly go for it from ball one, look at his SR as well..116!!!!!