‘Huge threat’: Stuart Broad points to Hardik Pandya as England’s biggest semi-final threat | Cricket News –

Former England seamer Stuart Broad issued a strong warning to England ahead of their semi-final clash against India, singling out Hardik Pandya as the player who could decide the match decisively.Broad stressed that Pandya’s influence goes beyond the numbers on the scoreboard.

The Indian all-rounder has the rare ability to change the tempo of a match, whether through powerful hitting in the late innings or by providing decisive passes with the ball.

According to Broad, Pandya enjoys high-pressure scenarios and exudes a self-confidence that motivates those around him.

The semi-final also offers an extra layer of comfort for Pandya, as it will be played on their home turf in the Indian Super League. Familiarity with the surface and conditions, combined with strong crowd support, can enhance his influence on the game.

Offering a tactical perspective, Broad suggested England must be smart about when Pandya gets to the end. He believes the key is to force him to strike earlier than he would ideally prefer, before he can slide seamlessly into his devastating final role.“If I’m an England bowler, I think I need to get him in after 12 overs so I can bowl when he’s not in the batting area straight away. He might think I’d like to look at a few of them before going in the final over.”

I’ll see this as my chance to get him out before he can hurt me in the last four games. “If India are only three or four away from entering the death over, that’s where India gets over 200, and they’ll be in a bit of trouble,” Broad said on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.Broad further explained that Pandya becomes particularly dangerous if India lay a strong foundation in the first half of the innings. With a solid platform, a player’s all-around confidence and presence can dominate the game.“If India get a good first 10 overs, Hardik Pandya becomes a big threat. When he comes in, he’s very confident. He has an aura around him and an arrogance in a positive way. He just believes he can do the job. He’s so lanky and lanky that you think about how you can hit the ball 100 meters like him. But he does it effortlessly,” he added.