'Not yet a Test all-rounder,' Holding calls for Pandya's removal

Trust Michael Holding to call a spade a spade. When the majority of cricket experts and more importantly the Indian team management are biting around the bush about Hardik Pandya, avoiding the inevitable question about his role in the Indian Test side, Holding blatantly states ‘Pandya is not yet a Test all-rounder and should not be in the playing XI.’     

Trust Michael Holding to call a spade a spade. When the majority of cricket experts and more importantly the Indian team management are biting around the bush about Hardik Pandya, avoiding the inevitable question about his role in the Indian Test side, Holding blatantly states ‘Pandya is not yet a Test all-rounder and should not be in the playing XI.’     

The former West Indies fast bowler refused to believe Pandya is adding value to the Indian side, in fact, if anything, he says Pandya’s presence has rendered India imbalance. "The [Indian] attack has not been in the right balance," Holding told ESPNcricinfo. "Apparently they are playing Hardik Pandya as an allrounder to help out with the bowling. When he bowls he isn't as effective as he should be. If he was a good batsman, if he was getting runs - 60s, 70s, not even regular hundreds - at the number at which he bats and then he bowls and gets two or three wickets, happy, hallelujah. Happy with that. But he is not getting the amount of runs that can then allow him to get a wicket or two in the Test match. That doesn't work."

Pandya has been far from impressive in the first two Test matches, failing to make any significant contribution with both bat and ball. However, he has the full backing of the Indian think tank. The Baroda all-rounder is the only player apart from Indian captain Virat Kohli, who has been constant in the playing XI in India’s last five Test matches.

The confidence in Pandya the all-rounder got a double tick when he was played as the third seamer in helping conditions at Lord’s and was sent in ahead of wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik in both innings by the Indian team management. Holding though, completely disagreed with India’s tactics.

"I don't think he does a lot with the ball. That is number one," Holding said. "He is not consistent. He does not have the control that puts batsmen under pressure constantly. He will bowl a couple of good deliveries, yes, but you need to have the control to put batsmen under pressure consistently. And he doesn't have that. If you are going to be a frontline bowler anywhere in the world, if you are going to be someone that your captain can rely on, that can throw you the ball and expect you to get wickets and expect you to have control, he is not really the man in my opinion."

Holding suggested India play a specialist batsman or an extra bowler instead of persisting with Pandya, who has scored only 90 runs and taken 3 wickets in the 2 Test matches in England.

"If there is no one else, sure you have to play him. If there is someone else that is a specialist batsman or specialist bowler I will certainly prefer that. There must be someone that can bat better if they want a batsman, there must be someone who can bowl better if they want a bowler. But it seems as if they are trying to fill two spots with one person. He (Pandya) is not there yet."

Despite his scathing assessment of Pandya, Holding said he is young and has time to develop as an allrounder.

"I am not going to tell anyone that you won't be there because he is a young man. But he is not there yet. I heard a mention, when I was working in South Africa: 'he is the next Kapil Dev'. I ain't going to tell anybody he's not going to be the next Kapil Dev, but he is nowhere near there yet. And they need to find someone who can contribute a lot more to this team right now."