Hardik Pandya is a crucial part of the Indian team, said Suryakumar Yadav after India clinched the opener of the five-match series against England in Kolkata on Wednesday. Playing at Eden Gardens, India dominated England with a seven-wicket win, thanks to a brilliant performance from their bowling unit.
India’s bowlers restricted England to a modest 132 runs, and in the second innings, Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting helped the hosts chase down the target in just 12.5 overs. Suryakumar Yadav attributed the bowling success to Hardik Pandya, who has added significant variety to India’s attack.
On the day, Pandya claimed two vital wickets of Jacob Bethell and Jofra Archer, surpassing Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to become India’s third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
Suryakumar praised Hardik for taking the new ball with Arshdeep, noting it has allowed India to adopt a fresh approach and include three spinners, adding variety to their attack.
“We wanted to stick to our strengths, and we did the same thing when we played in South Africa. Hardik took the responsibility of bowling with the new ball. So I had a little bit of cushion to play that extra spinner, and all those three are doing a wonderful job,” Suryakumar Yadav said after the match on Wednesday.
The batter also praised the team’s high energy in the first T20I, noting their efforts in saving multiple boundaries during the first innings.
“The energy, the way we started after winning the toss, set the benchmark. We took it from there. All the bowlers had their own plans, executing them with good energy on the ground, and the way we batted was the icing on the cake,” the captain added.
Arshdeep Embraces Additional Responsibility
The skipper praised Arshdeep Singh for becoming India’s top T20I wicket-taker, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal’s record by dismissing the English openers in the powerplay with his swinging deliveries.
“With experience, Arshdeep’s learning a lot, taking on extra responsibility. He knew he was the only bowler who could bowl with the new ball today, and then it was Hardik. He took that responsibility and he’s been doing it regularly. There’s a lot of freedom being given by Gauti bhai.”
“We just want to play a little bit differently from what we did in the 2024 T20 World Cup. We have our plans, we are batting the same way, and we’re very happy with the way we are going.”
“We’ve been working really hard with the fielding coach in all the sessions. There’s only one demand from him: that we have good energy, take the half-chances, and make a difference, and that’s what everyone is doing,” concluded the India T20I captain.
India will play the second T20I of the series in Chennai after a two-day break. The match is set to be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on January 25, Saturday.
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