Former Indian bowler S. Sreesanth backed Hardik Pandya’s inclusion in the Blues’ T20 World Cup 2024 squad citing Pakistan despite the all-rounder's poor form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Pandya became Mumbai Indians’ skipper replacing Rohit Sharma before the beginning of IPL 2024 but things didn’t go his way as not only the five-time IPL-winning side struggled badly, the all-rounder couldn’t deliver with the bat or the ball as well.
There were talks among the cricket fraternity about whether or not should Pandya be included in India’s World Cup squad but he eventually made it to the contention that will be in action for the Blues during the mega event.
Sreesanth, who took Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq’s catch in the 2007 T20 World Cup final and made India champions, backed Pandya’s inclusion in the squad saying he has performed for India in the past and even captained the side.
He also recalled the encounter against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup where he combined with Virat Kohli, who later won the match for the team.
"We have seen what he can do on the field minus this year's IPL. The way he's been batting and the way he's been bowling, for the country, he even led the country in one series and we won,'' Sreesanth remarked during a discussion on Star Sports.
"It was asked to Rohit about that and he said sometimes I'm the captain and sometimes I'm not. But that doesn't change the team's aura and atmosphere. So, it's one good thing that Hardik Pandya comes in and bats, especially when he's chasing and Virat is on the other side, I think the combination they create is great.”
He then added that Pandya can be useful with the new as well as the old ball and he will have the opportunity to forget his IPL 2024 campaign during the World Cup.
“Hardik can take the new ball or the old ball, especially against Pakistan, but it's not only against Pakistan, we are going to play a lot of different teams. So, it's an opportunity for Hardik to forget what he's done in this IPL and maybe, you never know, there are a few matches left and he may just come up."
India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj.
Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan
- Hardik Pandya
