T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya should be kept on rest & Deepak Hooda should play at no. 5 vs NED, says Sunil Gavaskar

T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya should be kept on rest & Deepak Hooda should play at no. 5 vs NED, says Sunil Gavaskar

Last Updated Oct - 25 - 2022, 11:32 AM | Source : FELA News

India won a thriller against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, 23 October, beginning their T20 World Cup campaign in style. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya put on a chase masterclass against Babar Azam's men as India snatched the game away from the jaws of defeat in the final ball of the game.

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All-rounder Pandya bowled a full four overs in the game and batted for 37 balls before getting out in the final over of the game. He looked out of breath in the final couple of overs and admitted after the game that he was really exhausted. India are set to play the Netherlands in their next Super-12 clash and Sunil Gavaskar feels that anyone in the team with a niggle should be rested and be kept fresh for the South Africa game, scheduled to be played on Sunday, 30 October.

"If Hardik’s got a bit of a niggle, it makes sense to rest him. Because, on Sunday, against South Africa, it’s going to be a big game. So, anybody who has got a bit of a niggle, you can get them a little fresh for the Sunday game. But again, it is a T20 format and you do not want to take any teams lightly. I would like Mohammad Shami to come and bowl because he has played very little cricket. I do believe he should come in and practice," Gavaskar said in an exclusive interview with India Today.

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The Dutch have come into the game with spirited performances in the group stage of the tournament and would hope to pose a challenge against a formidable India side. Gavaskar said that, in the T20 format, teams cannot be taken lightly and India should not relax after clinching a tough win against Pakistan.

"The Netherlands might not be as formidable as Pakistan and South Africa but India cannot relax against anybody," Gavaskar said.

Asked about the options that India have in their dugout as a replacement for Pandya, Gavaskar said that India could play Deepak Hooda or Dinesh Karthik at his position.

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"If Hardik Pandya is not there, you have Dinesh Karthik coming in at number 5, and that’s why i believe that you should bring in Deepak Hooda and bat him at number 5," Gavaskar concluded on the matter.

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