Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu expressed his disappointment over Hardik Pandya’s decision-making during India’s chase in the third T20I against England in Rajkot. While acknowledging Pandya’s effort with the bat, Rayudu felt that the all-rounder should have shown more trust in young batter Dhruv Jurel during the crucial final overs.
Hardik Pandya’s Knock Falls Short
Chasing a target of 172, India found themselves in trouble after losing key wickets early. Hardik Pandya, who came in under pressure, played a steady innings, scoring 40 runs off 35 balls, including two sixes and a four. Though he struggled for fluency in the middle overs, he accelerated towards the end but was dismissed on the first ball of the penultimate over, leaving India with an uphill task.
The turning point came in the eighth over when Adil Rashid dismissed the in-form Tilak Varma for 18, putting additional responsibility on Hardik to anchor the innings. Despite his efforts, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with Washington Sundar (6), Axar Patel (15), and Jurel (2) failing to contribute significantly.
Rayudu Questions Lack of Faith in Jurel
Rayudu did not criticize Hardik’s strike rate of 114.29 but felt he should have trusted Jurel more. One key moment that caught Rayudu’s attention was in the 18th over when Jurel hit a shot towards square leg but was denied a single by Hardik, who wanted to retain the strike. However, the plan backfired as Pandya was dismissed on the very next ball he faced in the following over.
“It was a good performance because batting wasn’t easy, and wickets were falling at the other end. So, he paced his innings well. However, when the finishing touch was needed, he could have shown a little more faith in Dhruv Jurel,” Rayudu stated.
A Missed Opportunity?
Rayudu suggested that had Hardik allowed Jurel more opportunities, the game could have been closer. India eventually lost by 26 runs, failing to put up a fight in the last couple of overs.
“If the required target was around 25 runs in the final over, Hardik has the ability to chase that down. I feel if he had shown a little more confidence in Jurel, the match might have been more competitive. However, the way he paced his innings was heartening,” Rayudu observed.
Despite Hardik’s efforts, India fell short, and Rayudu’s remarks highlight the importance of trust in young players during high-pressure chases.
