Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Trevor Bayliss has explained why their experienced batsman Manish Pandey was dropped from the playing XI after the third game. In the first two matches of the season for Hyderabad, Pandey got off to starts but couldn’t get his team over the line and failed to add the finishing touches despite being settled.

Pandey couldn’t change gears at the right time and it led to the downfall of the team. Bayliss stated that the Chennai track, which was slow and low, didn’t suit Pandey’s style of batting and it was tough for him to hit the ground running. Thus, the selectors decided to leave him out of the final XI.

Pandey scored 38 runs off 39 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore and played a rash shot at a wrong time. Furthermore, the right-hander scored 61 off 44 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening clash and couldn’t change gears in the fag end of the innings.

However, Pandey was back against Chennai Super Kings and he played a good knock of 61 runs off 46 balls as David Warner struggled at the other end at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday.

“Yes, that was certainly the selectors’ choice. It was felt that that wicket (Chepauk) didn’t suit Manish with the ball stopping and spinning. But (we knew) he would come back into the calculations on a wicket like here in Delhi, and he showed tonight what a good player he is. Hopefully, from here on in, if the wickets are going to be similar, we know what sort of damaging player he can be,” said Bayliss. 

Manish Pandey has all the experience under his belt and he will look to be at his best in the coming matches. SRH’s middle order has been their weakness and Pandey will look to provide solidarity with Kane Williamson.

SRH are struggling as they have managed a solitary win out of the six matches they have played and will need to turn the tables quickly. The David Warner-led team will next face Rajasthan Royals at the same venue in Delhi on 2nd of May.