Ian Chappell reckons Hardik Pandya should take a leaf out of Ben Stokes' book

Hardik Pandya, the Indian all-round cricketer, hasn’t had a memorable outing in the opening Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. He couldn’t pick up a single wicket in the entire match and also couldn’t stand up when the team needed a substantial knock in the dying phases of the encounter. While Sam Curran accounted for his wicket in the first innings, Ben Stokes pinned him in the second.

He forayed into the format with a couple of swashbuckling knocks against Sri Lanka and South Africa but hasn’t been able to replicate the same form thereafter. Moreover, he hasn’t been able to stamp his authority with the leather. However, Ian Chappell reckons Pandya needs to be groomed further and also hailed him for the determination he showed in his knock of 31 runs in Birmingham.

This could be a defining series for Pandya

“India’s search for a seam-bowling all-rounder is still a work in progress but Hardik Pandya displayed determination and discipline to go with his undoubted skills in an important partnership with Kohli,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

Chappell also called for the promotion of the Gujarat-born cricketer in the batting order. Furthermore, the retired cricketer mentioned that Pandya should try and learn from Ben Stokes, the English cricketer who finished with six wickets in the match, which included the prized scalp of Virat Kohli, the Indian captain.

“Perhaps a move to No 6 would further bolster his batting confidence and if he can also profit from watching Stokes’ efforts with the ball, this could be a defining series for the talented all-rounder,” the former Australian cricketer added.

Meanwhile, Stokes is unlikely to take part in the Test match against India at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, starting August 9. He is scheduled to be present in a hearing at the Bristol Crown Court on Monday surrounding the brawl he got himself involved in last September.

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