Hardik Pandya bowling in intra squad match is a good sign: Suryakumar Yadav

India’s batsman Suryakumar Yadav has revealed that Hardik Pandya bowled in the intra squad match and it is a good sign for the team moving forward.

Pandya hasn’t bowled at full cylinders since he has undergone back surgery and India needs him to bowl his quota of overs, so that he provides the right balance to the playing XI.

Pandya can provide the finishing touches with his blistering batting and he will certainly will add value to the team if can bowl his quota of overs in the T20 World Cup. The all-rounder didn’t bowl a single over in the first phase of IPL 2021 while playing for defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Pandya has paid special attention in managing his workload after undergoing back surgery and played purely as a batsman in the limited over series against Australia in 2020.

“He (Hardik) did bowl in the England series. During the IPL, he did not bowl. He bowled in the intrasquad game and he bowled in the nets. So, it is his and the team management’s call on how they want to go about it, but yes, he is bowling. That’s a very good sign,” Yadav said during an online media interaction.

Pandya has grabbed his opportunities and it will be interesting to note his performances in the upcoming limited overs series against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga had recently stated that it is an insult to their cricket as India has sent a second-string team. However, Suryakumar Yadav didn’t pay much heed to the comment.

“We are not thinking about that, we are just here to have some fun, enjoy this series and take a lot of positives from here,” Yadav said.

“…it is a great opportunity for everyone, having a tour amid this situation, it is a great challenge and responsibility for each and everyone to come out here and express themselves.

On the other hand, Yadav showed good form with the bat as he scored a fifty in the intra-squad match. The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka will be played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on 13th July.