India vs England: Ajay Jadeja reckons India are not using Hardik Pandya's batting judiciously

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja feels that Hardik Pandya should be batting up the order for the national team in T20Is. Jadeja’s comments come after Pandya batted at no.7 for India in the third T20I against England on Tuesday. The Baroda all-rounder found it difficult to time the ball and ended with only 17 runs off 15 balls in the death overs. 

India lost the third T20I, going down in the series by 2-1, with two more matches to go. Pandya had also found it difficult to get settled in the first T20I. In that match, he ended with a 21-ball 19. According to the former batsman, Pandya coming at no.7 was too late as only the fast-bowlers who had bowled well were the ones who had overs left. 

While speaking on the Cricbuzz Live show, Jadeja said, “I feel some players are not playing in their ideal positions. For example, I am a big fan of how Hardik Pandya plays his game. When he came out to bat today, look at the England bowlers who had overs left. Archer, Wood, and an over or two of someone else.”

India need to understand which batsman will give them the maximum returns when they come up against a particular bowler: Ajay Jadeja

Jadeja further pointed out that Pandya’s batting strength would have been effective if he was facing any of the weaker bowlers when he came out to bat. He said that it is important that the Indian team analyses which batter can get maximum returns against which bowler and they should pack the batting order accordingly. 

“There is no team who have five frontline bowlers. You will always have one bowler who’s slightly weaker than the others. India needs to understand which batsman will give them the maximum returns when they come up against a particular bowler,” said Jadeja during the show.

Interestingly, Pandya had batted at no.6 during India’s tour of Australia late last year. He had played some match-winning knocks in both the ODIs and T20Is. But, in the second and third T20I against England, India decided to go in with only four bowlers, which meant Pandya was pushed down the order to no.7. 

“You know the pace at which Hardik Pandya bats when he’s having a good day. You have to think whether you want to up the ante when your batsmen are facing Archer or Wood, or when someone like Jordan or Sam Curran is bowling. That’s why I feel India’s current batting lineup isn’t in their best interest,” concluded Jadeja.