Hardik Pandya makes rubbish statement at toss during West Indies vs India 3rd ODI

Hardik Pandya is seen as future Indian captain and has started leading the T20I team in recent times.

Indian stand-in captain Hardik Pandya has made a rubbish statement to disappoint the Indian fans just before the third ODI against West Indies at Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. Hardik Pandya is leading the India team as Rohit Sharma has been rested after the first ODI win in the ongoing three-match series. Hardik Pandya made a bizarre statement when he was asked about keeping India’s unbeaten record against West Indies in the ODI format. Hardik is also looked in as India’s future captain of Team India. 

Hardik’s bizarre statement at the toss

At the toss, when Samuel Badree asked Hardik, “India have not lost a bilateral ODI series in more than a decade vs West Indies. You don’t want to be the captain to break the trend?” To this question, India stand-in captain Hardik Pandya replied, “It’s Ok to be unique”.

His statement has not gone too well among the already disappointed Indian cricket fans. Several fans have come out to troll Hardik Pandya for this ridiculous statement. India desperately need to win the final ODI against West Indies to keep their 17 years long unbeaten record against West Indies. 

Team India haven’t lost a bilateral ODI series against West Indies since 2006. In 2006, under Brian Lara’s leadership, the Caribbean team decimated Rahul Dravid-led Indian by 4-1 in a 5-match ODI series. Coincidentally the then Indian captain, Rahul Dravid is also involved in the ongoing 3-match series as head coach of Team India.

Rahul Dravid was also criticised heavily for his experimental approach just two months before the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. Unfazed by the criticism, Rahul Dravid said he will do that to find the answers for the big title.

Team India under Hardik Pandya made two changes for the third ODI. Jaydev Unadkat and Ruturaj Gaikwad got the opportunity over Umran Malik and Axar Patel. This decision also came under fire as both Unadkat and Ruturaj are not part of the World Cup plans. Ruturaj Gaikwad will be leading the Asian Games squad during that period. While Axar Patel and Umran Malik both were part of India’s World Cup plan. Umran Malik bowled only 6 overs in the two ODI he played in the series. Opener Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan started magnificently and added more than 100 runs for the first wicket. 

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