Krunal Pandya begins quest to be the strongest back-up to Ravindra Jadeja

In Australia late last year, when premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya could only play as a specialist batsman, India were put through a difficult examination on the balance of their playing XI. It was a tough ask of Hardik, too, as he had played most of his ODI career till then as a fifth bowler who […]
 
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Krunal Pandya begins quest to be the strongest back-up to Ravindra Jadeja

In Australia late last year, when premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya could only play as a specialist batsman, India were put through a difficult examination on the balance of their playing XI.

It was a tough ask of Hardik, too, as he had played most of his ODI career till then as a fifth bowler who bats No.7. Suddenly, he was having to prove that he can walk into the side as a top 6 batter and do so against a quality attack in foreign conditions.

Over the course of three matches, Hardik produced terrific knocks in Sydney and Canberra facing Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa. It was the biggest positive to come out of a 2-1 series defeat for India, as Hardik showed ample range and resolve under pressure, leaving no doubts that he can bat higher up the order.

The team management would’ve felt excited seeing Hardik add more strings to his bow, given that at some stage in the future he was due to resume bowling. That excitement, however, would’ve been immediately overshadowed by a sense of caution and realisation that, with an injury-prone bowling action, India can’t any further demand 10 overs per game from Hardik.

Hardik being an undroppable individual, India had to tweak their balance and play another utility cricketer, who would strengthen the team in both departments and share the workload of his fellow all-rounder. Also, help him avoid injuries and prolong his career.

Krunal Pandya begins quest to be the strongest back-up to Ravindra Jadeja

When Kedar Jadhav was around till the 2019 World Cup, he did this job in a quiet but commendable fashion. But Jadhav wasn’t going to play the next World Cup and it made sense to move past him.

Against Australia, the onus to play the new ‘Jadhav’ was on Ravindra Jadeja, the hero of India’s 2013 Champions Trophy win, whose white-ball career thereafter has been spent trying to prove people wrong with both bat and ball. Jadeja has an ODI batting strike-rate of 87.07 and a bowling strike-rate of 45.5, which may show that he has neither been a consistently good power-hitter nor a regular wicket-taker.

Since the 2019 World Cup, however, Jadeja has displayed a greater range of strokeplay to fast-bowlers and spinners alike. And at No.7, India didn’t need Jadeja to be a wicket-taker, instead provide them control with the ball. Being economical in ODIs is something Jadeja has never really had an issue with – his economy rate over 168 matches is 4.92 – and so, it made sense for India to give an experienced player, approaching his peak years with the bat, a nod for the position.

In that Australia series, Jadeja, though not so economical with the ball on flat pitches in Sydney, batted quite well, especially in the Canberra ODI, and ended with 115 runs at a strike-rate of 117.35. Jadeja looked primed to own the No.7 spot in the side and play as Hardik’s joint fifth-bowler support, who would also provide late blitz with the bat.

But then India’s new first-choice No.7 got injured and couldn’t be fit to face England in both T20Is and ODIs, which therefore forced the selectors to spread the net wider and look for more utility options. If Washington Sundar benefitted from the opening in T20Is, it was Krunal Pandya in the ODIs.

Krunal Pandya provides ideal back-up option to Ravindra Jadeja

Krunal Pandya begins quest to be the strongest back-up to Ravindra Jadeja

Krunal Pandya can be a strong back-up for Ravindra Jadeja

Krunal Pandya, known more for his exploits for Mumbai Indians (MI), had already played T20I cricket but wasn’t considered for the 50-over unit before as the selectors waited for him to be an improved version of himself in the longer version. Krunal, though, finally passed that test in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy where he struck 388 runs at an average of 129.33 and had a strike-rate of 117.93.

A valuable defensive left-arm spinner, who now has a greater range in his batsmanship, Krunal being picked for the ODI squad was the right call at the right time. And when he was handed his first cap in the format on Tuesday (March 23) in Pune for an emotional but very important debut, Krunal reinforced the selectors’ decision with a fantastic half-century and a bowling spell that only improved in its discipline and control as the match went deeper.

Knowing that Jadeja will comeback in the side in future, Krunal Pandya would’ve felt a sense of pressure to deliver the goods. But with his performance, especially with the bat, he quietly strengthened his case in the quest to be Jadeja’s strongest back-up. If Krunal can do the dual role consistently through this series and thereafter, he will not only stay ahead of Sundar, and also Axar Patel among others, in the pecking order, but also keep Jadeja on his toes, which is a win-win situation for a team that eyes World Cup supremacy at home in less than three years’ time.