Virender Sehwag: “I think Hardik Pandya is a long-term prospect for India in any format and not only overseas”

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There has been a lot of debate about India all-rounder Hardik Pandya as of late, with many people criticising him for not living up to expectations.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell lashed out at the 24-year-old for his run out in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa in Centurion.

Pandya did not ground his bat despite being right near the crease and was run out by Vernon Philander. In his column for the Hindustan Times, Chappell went on to slam Pandya for not getting the basics right, saying: “Pandya’s laziness; sloppiness; arrogance; call it whatever you want, it was unforgivable.”

However, ex-India opener Virender Sehwag has a highly different view on Pandya as he believes the Gujarat native is capable of representing India for many years to come.

“Definitely, I think Hardik Pandya is a long-term prospect for India in any format and not only overseas,” he was quoted as saying by CricTracker. “He is immensely talented with the bat especially, but he needs to be consistent as an all-rounder as well.

“If it doesn’t happen, it would be a huge disappointment but it will take time for him to grow as a cricketer. His career has just started and it will take a couple more years for him to become an exceptional player like Kapil Dev.”