Hardik Pandya had an impact with both the bat and ball in the first Test
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Lance Klusener believes that Hardik Pandya has what it takes to become one of India’s best all-rounders.
The former South Africa all-rounder was highly impressed with Pandya’s performance against the Proteas in the first Test in Cape Town as he scored a brilliant 93 in the first innings and took a total of three wickets.
“I thought his knock in India’s first innings was fantastic,” Klusener, who is Zimbabwe’s batting coach, told PTI as quoted by The New Indian Express. “His batting was excellent in the way he reversed pressure and put it back on South Africa. He is going to be fantastic for India. He is still developing and I think if he could add another yard of pace to his bowling, he would become a truly amazing all-rounder.”
In the four Tests he has played to date, Pandya averages 54.40 with the bat as he has scored a hundred and two fifties. In terms of his bowling, he has taken seven wickets at an average of 25.
“All the signs are there that he is developing into a fantastic all-round prospect,” Klusener said. “Sure, he is bound to fail a few times the way he plays, but it is better to encourage that positive approach than reel him in.
“So, he is in good company, whether he plays for Mumbai Indians in IPL or in this Indian team, he is surrounded by a lot of good people. It is their responsibility to nurture him.”
Coming into the first Test, India, who were beaten by 72 runs, opted not to play a warm-up game. Klusener admitted that the move backfired in Cape Town and may continue to do so in the remaining two Tests.
“Look, it is always good to have a practice game under your belt,” he said. “If India were touring in the sub-continent, then it wouldn’t be the end-of-the-world if they didn’t play a practice game before the tour. But for them to come to South Africa, it would have been nice for them to have the practice game in foreign conditions.
“”If the shoe was on the other foot, and South Africa were touring India, they would have played at least one practice game to get used to sub-continental conditions.”
When asked what India can take away from the first Test, the 46-year-old said: “India can take a lot of learning from that first Test loss. It could have been a lot worse to be honest if Pandya didn’t play that excellent knock and scored those 90-odd runs.
“I think that is a learning point for India in how they can turn this around. They need to be pro-active and take the pacers’ challenge head on.
“You expect to be battered with pace when you come to South Africa. Look at their team selection – they played four pacers – that in itself is a message from the Proteas. It was always going to be a challenge for India especially after they had just played Sri Lanka.
“That series went by in home conditions without the Indian batsmen playing any real fast bowling. Yes, they fought hard in this Test but lost chasing a small total, and this should be extremely disappointing for them.”
However, despite losing at Newlands, Klusener conceded that he was highly impressed by India’s bowlers.
“When you compare them to South Africa’s pace attack, they do lack a bit of pace, bowling in the mid-130s,” he said. “But what I found remarkable was that they immediately hit the perfect length for South African conditions. It was similar to the lengths Philander was bowling.
“In the past, we have seen Indian pacers come here and get carried away with bounce and carry. This time they have obviously spoken about bowling fuller lengths and it was excellent to see them executing their plans very well.”
South Africa seamer Vernon Philander ripped through India’s batting line-up in the second innings of the first Test and ended up finishing with career-best figures of 6-42.
Lance Klusener: “You have to take the game to him and be proactive”
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Knowing that Philander presents a serious threat in the remaining two Tests, Klusener had some advice for the Indian batsmen.
“To a bowler of that pace, you have to stand out of the crease and force him to alter his lengths,” he said. “You need to stand at least half a meter outside the crease, if not a full meter, and force Vernon Philander to bowl shorter lengths at you.
“You have to take the game to him and be proactive. If you stay in your crease and try to play him, you will be in trouble all day.”
In regards to whether India can pull off a come-from-behind series win, Klusener admitted that it is highly unlikely.
“I will be honest with you. I don’t see India winning this Test series,” he said. “I don’t see them winning two Tests on the bounce. Maybe they can win and draw. Coming from 1-0 down, 1-1 will be a good result for them. But to do that, they need to work to a plan.
“South Africa are a good team with good pacers. India’s only chance is if they can get a big score on the board.”