Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron criticised India’s tactics after the Men in Blue suffered a 76-run drubbing against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. Aaron said Hardik Pandya was sent too late in the run-chase of 188.

Pandya batted at number seven and managed only 18 runs off 17 balls. Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube were promoted ahead of the right-handed all-rounder. Eventually, India was bowled out for only 111 runs and suffered a huge loss against the Proteas. The Men in Blue were thoroughly dominated by Aiden Markram’s team with both bat and ball.

Varun Aaron said on ESPN Cricinfo, “You’ve got to get Hardik Pandya up that batting order. He has taken the team home through different situations. When you needed about 144 runs off 13 overs, the man you would back is Hardik Pandya. He holds his shape so well. He remains poised at the crease. At that point, you want someone who can absorb the pressure and then go big when he’s set. But, Hardik Pandya was in too late.

On the other hand, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 18 runs off 22 balls and Aaron highlighted that the right-hander struggled against the pace-off deliveries.

“The moment you bowl pace off to Surya, he finds it very hard to play those lap shots. We saw him get beaten for the lack of pace quite a few times. Even the ball he got out, he tried to go too much into the line and he completely miscued it.”

Yadav was looking to play towards deep fine leg but he was early into the shot and thus managed a bottom edge, which ballooned to Dewald Brevis at mid-wicket. 

India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.