'He does not deserve to be in' - Twitter disappointed as Hardik Pandya's poor form continues

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has hogged plenty of limelight of late after he made a return in the Indian team. Going into the third and final ODI in Colombo with an unassailable 2-0 lead, India made a sea of changes in the eleven that defeated Sri Lanka on Tuesday by three wickets.

Pandya, who has not had much business in the series thus far, was backed by the management nonetheless and was included in the team for the last ODI. However, much to the disappointment of many, he could not make the chance count and walked back after scoring 19 off 17. He was dismissed for a three-ball duck in the previous game, while India never needed him to bat in the first ODI when a rather dominating show from the team’s top-order led them to a seven-wicket win with 80 balls to spare.

While Pandya has not managed to switch on the pyrotechnics with that bat, he has not been able to leave a mark with the ball either, with his figures in the two fixtures hitherto being 1/34 (5) and 0/20 (4). Quite unsurprisingly, therefore, the fans, who eagerly waited for the 27-year-old to get into his groove through this series were unimpressed.

Pandya’s woes with the ball

Notably, Pandya had been away from bowling action for a long time owing to a severe injury in his lower back. While he sent down a few overs in the limited-overs series against England earlier this year, he was unable to reap too many rewards. The last he completed his full quota in ODIs dates back to the ICC ODI World Cup 2019.

Given the T20 World Cup 2021 approaching, India would be better off with Pandya, the all-rounder, available with his full potential in all the departments. Though, he has not been able to do that so far, not all stands lost for him as India is set to play three T20Is between July 25 and 29 against Sri Lanka, before leaving to the UAE for the second leg of the Indian Premier League 2021.

The 14th edition of the league was suspended midway after Covid-19 cases emerged in four camps across two different cities. However, the league stage will resume in the UAE in September 2021.

Meanwhile, here’s how Twitter reacted:

Indian cricket fans to @hardikpandya7 right now pic.twitter.com/84MP6kKUyF

— Goutam Guruprasad Jena (@goutamGGPJ) July 23, 2021

#hardikpandya overconfident and arrogant, sorry to say he does not deserve to be in the team

— siddharth arora (@siddhar98531723) July 23, 2021

Hardik pandya needs to deliver now sooner than later! He has been poor since a while now..

— Dr Vivek Vithalani (@vithalani_vivek) July 23, 2021

Insta pe story aur feed daalne se fursat mil jaye to khel bhi liya karo chacha @hardikpandya7 swag tabhi achha lagta hai jab performance ho maidaan pe. #HardikPandya

— किशन सिंह चन्देल 🇮🇳 (@imchandela) July 23, 2021

Should #HardikPandya be given so many opportunities considering his recent form and fitness issues. If yes, won't be it unfair to other players as they don't get always these many opportunities to perform at the highest level.#Askcricbuzzlive

— Ishan Vegad (@ISHANVEGAD) July 23, 2021

Where are those who said hardik pandya is better than Ben stokes

— Sricharan (@Srichar40066624) July 23, 2021

Hardik Pandya 🤦

— Vijaymad 5.O (@imPVK94B3) July 23, 2021

What did India get from the India vs Sri Lanka ODI series ?

Archivement :- ___________.

Waste of time :- Manish Pandey

Biggest disappointment :- Hardik pandya.#indiavssrilanka2021#IndianCricketTeam @vikrantgupta73 @SPORTSTAK_

— Subham kumar (@Subhamraj270) July 23, 2021

Hardik pandya is a player built for roads. Sorry to say he won't get that in the t20 world cup. We better start looking for a proper all rounder. Every team has few apart from india.#SLvIND #HardikPandya

— khan irhan (@_Brawnybrainiac) July 23, 2021

Hardik Pandya needs a break from international cricket to understand the value of a spot which the team management gives him as an all-rounder because he lacks sincerity. #INDvsSL

— Nilesh Kolage. (@thenileshkolage) July 23, 2021

Hardik pandya need to improve his skills to participate in t20 2021

— Ritu Raj (@RituRaj89520389) July 23, 2021

Hardik Pandya has lot of potential…..But He is justifying it outside the cricket field…#INDvsSL

— Gaurav Kumar (@GkcrickeKumar) July 23, 2021

Too fast hands, slow leg movement and wrong judgement of bowling line.
Any worry signs???
Let's see Coach Sir what he does now??
Experience missing from Hardik Pandya Manish Pandey. Slow tracks at Indian Pitches Should Help but lacking.
Missing Kuldeep here 😢@cricketaakash

— HITESH JAIN (@guy92_hitesh) July 23, 2021

Hardik Pandya's stats against SL is worst than a nightmare. Averaging under 20 in 11+ innings. He has potential. We all know that. Let's hope Pandya turn this around in T20.

— Shubham Thakur (@bisht12shubham) July 23, 2021

No one would disagree that @hardikpandya7 has the talent but he hardly has any consistency. Not sure why he gets so many chances. Certainly not ODI fit @BCCI

— RRaju (@straightfrmraju) July 23, 2021

Why not #NitishRana has been sent ahead of #HardikPandya! #HardikPandya is an all-rounder he can bat lower order! #TeamIndia have good bowling lineup tonight!#INDvSL #INDvsSL #SLvENG #SLvsENG #Cricketpic.twitter.com/L6kE8HsAZe

— BlueCap 🇮🇳 (@IndianzCricket) July 23, 2021