PANDEY TO GRIND IT OUT

Bengaluru: Known for his ability to tackle spin and seam alike during the middle overs and accelerate scoring, Manish Pandey is often seen as the ideal batsman for the No. 4 slot in Team India. Having earned two opportunities to bat at the position in the ODI series against Australia, the flamboyant Karnataka cricketer has not been able to make it his own with poor scores of 0 (Chennai) and 3 (Kolkata) in the first two outings.

In the third contest in Indore, Hardik Pandya was preferred ahead of Pandey as No. 4 and the Gujarat allrounder justified his promotion with a match-winning 78. However, Pandey, who stepped in at No. 6, guided the team home with an unbeaten 32-ball 36. With KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane — currently opening in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan— waiting to occupy the slot, Pandey will be under pressure to deliver.

Admitting there was intense pressure to deliver coming in at two-down, Pandey was quick to add that he was focussed on making amends and regaining his slot. “Whether you're batting, bowling or fielding, there is always pressure. But I am here to stay, play a lot of games and win them for India. There is a spot for the taking so I'll work hard to try and find a place here. So far I've got No. 4 and there are times when the batting order has changed a bit. I will be looking to play most of the games in that order and do well for the team,” Pandey explained.

Revealing that he was fine with Pandya taking his slot in Indore, Pandey pointed out that the shuffle was part of the team plan. “When the spinners are on, sometimes the plan is that somebody who is a little more aggressive, batsman who can hit the big sixes, will pad up. That’s what Ravi (Shastri) bhai said in the meeting,” Pandey said.

“We all are fine with that and it has paid off. Hardik played well at number four and it’s good for the middle order. I’m ready to bat in any slot,” added the right-hander, who came into the series with impressive scores of unbeaten 50 & 36 (in ODIs) and an unbeaten 51 (T20) during their tour of Sri Lanka in August.

About Australia, Pandey felt they had been let down by their batsmen. “Some things are not clicking for them. The top-order is batting well but they are not getting enough runs. They are a good team and it is always good to beat them,” he said.