Hardik Pandya at present is India’s best finisher in limited-overs cricketer. The all-rounder was in terrific form against Australia in the white ball series and gave the much needed finishing touches to the India innings. Apart from Hardik team, India as of now doesn’t possess any other trusted finisher in T20Is.
Every good T20 side must have two outstanding finishers who can help their side score those crucial 10-15 extra runs. Team India will now be eyeing the 2021 ICC T20 world cup at home. After winning the first T20 world cup, the Indian side has failed to win the tournament which will surely be in the minds of Virat Kohli and co. As of now the top order batting and bowlers seems to be the settled department of team India in T20Is.
However, they still lack a player than can support Hardik Pandya in the middle order and provide the late order impetus. In the feature, we look ahead at the 5 Indian cricketers who can form an ideal finishing pair with Hardik Pandya in T20Is.
5 Indian Cricketers Who Can Be An Ideal Finishing Pair With Hardik Pandya In T20Is
1. Ravindra Jadeja
The one name that automatically springs to mind when we talk about finishers in Indian cricket today is Ravindra Jadeja. Since the 2019 cricket world, Jadeja has immensely improved his power hitting and range of strokes in T20 cricket. The all-rounder is now at the peak of the powers as a batsman and is the prime contender to bat at the number 7 spot in the T20I squad.
We all saw the brilliant match-winning partnership of Hardik Pandya and Jadeja in the final ODI against Australia. The two complimented each other extremely well and smashed the Aussie bowlers to all corners of the ground. Ravindra Jadeja needs to continue his superb batting form and along with Pandya finish matches for India from difficult situations.
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2. Krunal Pandya
Hardik’s brother Krunal Pandya is also a notable candidate that can play as a finisher in the Indian T20I squad. The Pandya bros have time and time again stitched memorable batting partnerships for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. As a result, Krunal will certainly be in the scheme of things for the T20 world cup next year in India.
Krunal Pandya has an impressive strike rate of 143 in IPL which suggests that he has the power game which can be an asset for India late down the order. So far in his career, Krunal has played 18 T20I matches in which he has maintained a strike of around 132. Krunal should be given opportunities at the crucial number 7 spot ahead of the T20 world cup to see him in the role of a finisher alongside his brother Hardik.
3. Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey disappointed in the recent T20I series against Australia. However, the right-handed batsman still has a very effective T20I record. He averages around 45 which is very rare in T20 cricket as the batsman are always looking for quick runs. There’s no denying that Manish Pandey is a capable T20 batsman but he still needs to increase his strike rate in the shortest format.
So far in his T20I career, Manish Pandey has a batting strike rate of 127 which doesn’t do justice for a batsman of his class. The 31-year-old can bat at number 4 or 5 as he is a batsman who can accelerate from ball one. Pandey needs to improve his power-hitting against fast bowlers and then he can form a deadly finishing pair with Hardik Pandya for India.
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4. Rishabh Pant
It is so shocking to see that a batsman with a talent like Rishabh Pant has still been unable to cement his place in the T20I side. Pant is a proper T20I batsman who can take away the match from the opposition in the matter of few overs. The Southpaw just needs to pick the right bowlers against whom he will score heavily.
An in-form Rishabh Pant at 5 and destructive Hardik Pandya batting at 6 will cause major headaches for any opposing side. In the next few months, the Indian management should give Pant a lot of chances as he is a match-winner.
The 23-year-old has a strike rate of over 150 in IPL but has failed to continue that form in international cricket. Indian fans will be hoping that Pant finds his form back and creates a lethal partnership with Hardik Pandya heading into the T20 world cup.
5. Ishan Kishan
The last Indian cricketer on the list that can be a suitable finisher for team India in T20Is is the talented Ishan Kishan. The pocket-sized dynamo in the recently concluded IPL showed everyone that he is now a complete T20 batsman. Ishan Kishan ended the competition as the leading run-getter for champions Mumbai Indians.
The 22-year-old has a strike rate of 137 in his IPL career which is perfect for anyone batting in the middle order. A maiden India call for Kishan is not far away as he can be a perfect number 4 for India in T20Is. Kishan can execute big strokes against both pace and spin which makes a difficult batsman to contain during the slog overs Indian selectors should include Ishan Kishan in the T20 squad of India that will face England in 5 matches in February.
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