India’s search for a bowling all-rounder will end with Hardik: Mhambrey

Mhambrey, who worked with Hardik at Mumbai Indians, said the all-rounder’s abilities with the bat and the ball makes him an easy pick. “He has done well in the India ‘A’ series in Australia. He batted and bowled well. There is something out there about him that makes me feel that he is the all-rounder we are looking at, more of a bowling all-rounder. Hardik is someone who can up the ante by bowling 135+ consistently and a handy middle order bat at number 6 or 7. It is good for India to have a third seamer who can bowl at 135 kmph consistently,” Mhambrey added. 

Mhambrey praised the all-rounder’s attitude and said he has a long way to go in the game. “He has a great attitude and he is hardworking. He needs to play a lot more cricket. He needs to bat higher for his local side and bowl a lot more. The more he plays, the more he experienced he gets,” he added.

The Vidrabha coach added that Hardik has the temperament for Test match cricket. “He will learn. The experience of playing in the longest format will teach him. He wil understand his craft, the expectations at that level, the lengths he needs to bowl and the sessions he needs to bat,” Mhambrey added.