Kolkata: Hardik Pandya has played 88 T20I innings and has stayed not out 25 times. When he’s on fire, his strike rate soars over 178. But when he struggles, it dips to 140.78, which is still decent, but not quite up to Pandya’s usual standards since he usually bats towards the end of the innings. On Tuesday, during the third match against England in Rajkot, he was averaging less than a run a ball before getting out for 40 off 35. India’s loss felt pretty much unavoidable.

Pandya’s situation is a bit unique. Since MS Dhoni retired, he quickly became India’s go-to allrounder and a key player in the final overs. Whether it was his explosive 33-ball 63 in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final or his steady 40 off 37 balls against Pakistan while Kohli was chasing down a target, Pandya has shown he can adapt to what the game needs. However, he tends to start off cautiously.

India was fine with that approach, but now it’s facing more criticism, likely due to Tuesday’s loss or because Pandya’s strike rate has been below 117 in his last six innings. That’s a significant drop in a format as unpredictable as T20. “You can’t take 20-25 balls to settle in a T20I,” former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel mentioned during the post-match analysis on Star Sports. “I get the need to take your time, but you have to keep the scoreboard ticking. Hardik might have scored 40 off 35, but he had too many dot balls early on.”

Pandya has typically batted at the No. 5 or 6 spot, but the current India team, especially after the 2024 T20 World Cup, is taking a more flexible approach to batting without fixed positions. With players like Kohli or Pant usually around, Pandya would come in during the middle overs. However, things have shifted as India embraces a bolder style of play. This series has seen him batting in the 12th, 8th, and 6th overs, which might be putting pressure on him to adapt, as he’s used to setting up for a big finish in the last overs.

Then there's the batting order issue that former England captain Kevin Pietersen pointed out, saying India got it wrong on Tuesday. Dhruv Jurel batted at No. 8, which didn’t really provide the depth India needed. “Jurel is a skilled batter. Having him lower in the order for the left-right combination wasn’t the best move. I believe your top players should bat higher up,” Pietersen mentioned on Star Sports. “The left-right combo is fine up to No. 4, but after that, you should send in your best batsmen. Jurel is a solid player who could have built a significant innings,” he added.

Pandya, no longer the vice-captain, has seen his position weaken in recent months. As India shifts to a spin-heavy bowling strategy with the World Cup coming up next year, his performance as a medium-pacer hasn’t been impressive either.

In Rajkot, England showed their strategy by targeting Mohammed Shami while going after Pandya, who isn’t as fast or direct. This leaves Pandya primarily with the role of a batsman to stay relevant as India transitions in T20s. However, he might not have the luxury of playing the waiting game as much as he prefers.

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