"Amuses me that he's termed as the all-rounder from Baroda" - Dav Whatmore slams Hardik Pandya for lack of appearances in domestic cricket
Former Baroda coach Dav Whatmore took a sarcastic dig at Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his lack of appearances for the team during the Australian's tenure. One of the most celebrated international coaches with extended stints with Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, among others, Whatmore was part of the Baroda setup for two seasons, 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Hardik hasn't played first-class cricket for Baroda since 2018, featuring in domestic competitions barring the IPL only sparingly.
Talking on a Pakistan YouTube channel, Pak Passion, Whatmore said he was amused that Pandya was referred to as a 'Baroda all-rounder' when he hasn't played for them in a long time.
"There's still some individuals who don't play white-ball cricket. For example, my last few years in Baroda, Hardik Pandya wouldn't ever play white-ball cricket. It always amuses me that he's termed as the all-rounder from Baroda but he hasn't played for Baroda for years! So, yes, there are some who don't do that," said Whatmore.
He added:
"But recently, I've seen that the BCCI have been keen that players participate in Ranji Trophy as well as other two formats to ensure they see cricket as sports. Efforts are made to make sure 4-day cricket is not neglected."
Hardik Pandya is not part of the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming Sri Lankan tour, starting on July 27.
However, the star all-rounder is part of the T20I roster but is neither the captain nor the vice-captain, with the management deciding on Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper.
Hardik Pandya boasts impressive white-ball record for India
Despite the lack of domestic cricket, Hardik Pandya remains a vital cog in the Indian white-ball squads. The 30-year-old helped India win the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.
Pandya starred with the ball in the grand finale against South Africa with figures of 3/20 in three overs, including bowling the tense final over and dismissing a well-set David Millier to help India triumph by seven runs.
While he hasn't featured in Tests for India since 2018, Hardik Pandya's white-ball record remains sensational both with bat and ball. With the bat, the champion all-rounder averages over 34 at a strike rate of 110.35 in 86 ODIs and 26.64 at 140.88 in 100 T20Is.
Hardik's bowling has been crucial in both formats for Team India with a combined 168 wickets. The star cricketer will be back in action when India's tour of Sri Lanka begins with the first T20I at Pallekele on Saturday, July 27.