The Hardik Pandya Dilemma!? India slumped to a new low in T20 internationals by losing the 5th T20i vs West Indies in Florida. This meant that India lost a bilateral T20 series vs the Windies for the first time since 2017. India slumped to a 0-2 deficit in the 5-match rubber but then cannoned back strongly in the next 2 games to level the series. But everything that had to go wrong went wrong in the series decider as the Windies cantered to victory with 2 overs to spare.

Post the game, skipper Hardik Pandya said that losing is a “good thing sometimes”, which raised many eyebrows, especially after losing a series they had no business giving away. He has been under a storm of sorts, with questions being asked about his captaincy and a few of his decisions that left everyone watching baffled.

In this space, we take a look at the decisions Hardik Pandya took that probably ended up costing India the series-

Not giving Chahal the decisive over

In the second T20, India stormed back and was on the cusp of leveling the series. Yuzvendra Chahal had a star turn in that game, taking 3/19 in his 3 overs, and was widely touted to be bowling out his quota of overs and thereby sealing the game in its entirety right there and then. However, to everyone’s shock and awe, Hardik opted against giving Chahal his 4th and instead tossed the ball to Arshdeep, which swung the game in the favor of the hosts. This was a mistake that should not have happened in the first place, and thereby lead India in a 0-2 deficit staring down the barrel.

Hardik Pandya is not pulling his weight with the bat

It is time we have a serious conversation about Hardik Pandya the t20 batter. At his best, HP was a destructor with otherworldly power and strength that belied his slender frame. Every time he smashed the ball, it felt like the Grim Reaper coming to catch a soul. However, that version of Pandya is now nothing but a footnote in the annals of Indian T20 cricket. 

The modern-day iteration of Pandya is a sedate customer, playing with a sense of conservatism and withdrawal like it is an ODI. And the numbers more or less back that. He has scored hisn runs this series at a strike of a paltry 110. Even in the 5th T20, after his arrival, India did not manage to hit a single boundary from the 11th to the 15th over, which more or less stagnated the run-flow. Maybe it is time for Hardik to take a good, hard look at himself as a T20 batsman.

Borderline arrogance

While a lot of them have considered Hardik to be a pretty level-headed captain, some of his actions can easily be construed as arrogance. Statements like “losing sometimes is good learning” after a humbling in the series decider, or talking about being “unique” from the others. You have to walk the walk after you speak. Unfortunately HP has not been able to do that, and has to suffer the consequences.