Hardik Pandya will be a key unit to India's fortunes in South Africa: Sachin Tendulkar

The Indian Test team is ready and everyone is extremely excited to fight the Proteas in the upcoming series in their own backyard. This will be a big test for Virat Kohli & Co. in their quest to remain the No.1 team. Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar also feels that this side is pretty balanced and the most versatile combination to achieve the required results in the Test series against South Africa.

Their bunch of talented fast bowlers, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have the ability to take 20 wickets in challenging conditions. They also have a seam-bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya and there is a lot expected from him on this tour. Since he has always been groomed to lend balance to the team on overseas tour.

I have never seen a player like Pandya

Sachin stated that in his 24 years cricketing career worth gold, he never saw a player in the Indian team like Hardik who has the ability to contribute both with bat and ball in the longest format of the game. He mentioned that the all-rounder has the ability to bowl 17-18 over at challenging pace and also has the potential to score runs at the No. 7 or 8.

The legendary cricketer also revealed that the upcoming Test series against South Africa will be the biggest series for young Pandya and the captain will also rely on him to deliver.

“In my 24 years with the Indian Test team we never had the balance this team has. The man who brings in such versatility is Hardik Pandya. A guy who can bowl 17-18 overs and is perfectly capable of scoring runs at No 7 or 8 is an asset. This is going to be Pandya’s biggest series and Virat will be banking on him,” said Tendulkar as quoted by Hindustan Times.

India can play three frontline pacers

The master believes that considering the Indian bowling attack, they have the opportunity to play three frontline fast bowlers for the first time in the history of Indian cricket. He mentioned the fact that his team could not enjoy this luxury even in the phase where former all-rounder Kapil Dev was leading the bowling attack. Tendulkar stated that the current Indian Test line-up is a balanced and sorted combination to record the desired results against top sides.

“For the first time, India can afford to play with three genuine seamers. Never before could we think of three pacers and a fourth one to fall back on — not even during Kapil Dev’s time could we enjoy this luxury. At best we would play with three quicks with Manoj Prabhakar being one of them. But this team is just so well balanced,” he added.