Anil Kumble: Full freedom to Hardik Pandya, told him to not be afraid

With the team on the ascendancy, the think-tank has been able to try out strategies and options going forward without the fear of failure. The latest strategy is to back all-rounder Hardik Pandya to the hilt

Hardik Pandya bowls during a training session at the Kotla in New Delhi yesterday. Pic/AFP

New Delhi: Head coach Anil Kumble is the link between Team India's two-pronged strategy — one is to maintain the top ranking in Test cricket under Virat Kohli, with an eye on upcoming series against England and Australia, and the other is to get the ODI team ready for the Champions Trophy, scheduled in England next June, under MS Dhoni.

Ever since Kumble took over new assignment, things have gone India's way. Things are falling in place despite a slew of injuries and illness. With the team on the ascendancy, the think-tank has been able to try out strategies and options going forward without the fear of failure. The latest strategy is to back all-rounder Hardik Pandya to the hilt and groom Manish Pandey at No. 4.

New ball to Pandya
It was indeed a surprise when Pandya was given the new ball in first ODI in Dharamsala against New Zealand. The way he rattled the Kiwi batsmen on a helpful pitch was a revelation and a peek into the strategy that the team plans to use him in that role right up to Champions Trophy.

Kumble is too shrewd to allow the youngster to feel the pressure despite additional responsibility thrust upon him. "We don't want to put pressure on younger players. We have given full freedom to Hardik. We have told him not to be afraid of getting hit and just to focus on bowling in the right areas. "No bowler can pitch six deliveries on one spot. He is bound to be hit. But how he comes back is what matters. We think he has in him to be a good all-rounder. In batting, too, he is at freedom and we leave it to him how he decides to bat. Of course, it also depends on the situation," the head coach said on the role given to the young player.

Pandey impressive
On Manish Pandey, the head coach said that he has done quite well on the recent India A tour of Australia and has been grinding it out in domestic cricket. "He has shown promise over a period with solid performances in domestic cricket. Though No. 4 is a set position for him, it all depends on the match situation."

Manish Pandey

Kumble was quite forceful in saying that Ajinkya Rahane would continue to open in the remaining four matches of the ODI series against New Zealand, including today's game at the Kotla as, "Rahane at the top gives us option to try out other batsmen down the order. After the Test series against England we will think about the opener's position (in ODIs).

"That is four to five matches later," Kumble said. There is no doubt that the think-tank is ready to back youngsters like Pandya and Pandey. It is up to them to make the most of the opportunities and cement their place in the ODI team.

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