Hardik Pandya is a valuable player for India’s cricket team because he can bat aggressively and bowl well. Even though he hasn’t played well in the IPL recently, the selectors still chose him for the T20 World Cup. They believe in his skills and think he can win matches for India.
The team management trusts Hardik Pandya to perform well in big international games. The T20 World Cup is an important tournament, and Pandya’s experience and talent could help India win.
However, his form leading up to the tournament will be closely monitored, and he will be expected to regain his touch and contribute significantly to India’s campaign in the T20 World Cup.
Why so much discussion on Hardik’s choice?
The discussion about Hardik Pandya’s selection for the Indian squad in the Twenty20 World Cup began a week or two before the official announcement on April 30th. The main reason for this debate was Hardik’s underwhelming performance in the ongoing IPL tournament. Most concerns were focused on his bowling, which didn’t meet expectations.
In the IPL 2024 matches this year, Hardik Pandya took on the challenge of bowling the first over for Mumbai Indians in their opening game. However, he struggled and conceded a lot of runs. This led to criticism from fans and experts alike. As a result, he refrained from bowling with the new ball in subsequent matches and even skipped bowling altogether in some games. In the nine matches he played, he only bowled 19 overs and managed to take just four wickets.
Given his inconsistent bowling performance, there were doubts about whether the Indian team would continue to have confidence in Hardik Pandya. However, the selectors have now made their decision clear by including him in the squad for the T20 World Cup.
Performance Of Hardik Pandya In Ongoing IPL 2024
This season’s IPL has been challenging for Hardik Pandya, both on and off the field. Before the start of the tournament, there was discontent among Mumbai Indians fans regarding the decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Hardik as the team’s captain. This led to criticism of Hardik on social media and even during matches in the stadium, affecting his confidence and performance.
Hardik’s struggles have been evident across all aspects of his game – batting, bowling, and leadership. As a batsman, he has scored only 197 runs in nine matches at an average of 24.62 and a strike rate of 151.53, without managing to score a half-century yet.
His bowling performance has also been below par, with just four wickets to his name so far in the tournament. Additionally, his leadership skills have been questioned due to several mistakes made while captaining the Mumbai Indians.
Why do Selectors still believe in Hardik Pandya?
𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ 🏆
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 30, 2024
Here's our squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 💙🇮🇳
#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Sk9C7uS0N8
Hardik Pandya is regarded as an all-around player who can win a match when healthy and in form. He has already shown his strength on the international front, having participated in 92 international Twenty20 matches. Moreover, Hardik is a great addition to the team because India doesn’t have many options for fast-bowling all-round players.
Considering these factors, it’s likely that the Indian team management and selection committee have decided to maintain their faith in Hardik despite his recent struggles. Additionally, although he hasn’t had much success as a captain in this year’s IPL, Hardik led Gujarat Titans in the last two seasons, guiding the team to the title and runner-up positions respectively.
This leadership experience has also earned him the role of vice-captain for the Indian team in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
What Care Should Be Taken About Hardik?
There is no doubt that the Indian team is more balanced if Hardik performs well as an all-rounder. However, the Indian team management will have to consider whether Hardik can be relied upon as an all-rounder in every match.
Questions are always raised about Hardik’s fitness. Hardik suffered a leg injury during the ODI World Cup last year and it hit India hard. After that, India had to play with only five bowlers.
Also, in batting, he is not seen hitting as easily as before. So now India has to be careful not to over-depend on Hardik. Also, it will be important to see how successful Hardik’s bowling is on slow pitches in America and West Indies.
The Indian Squad For The T20 World Cup 2024 (USA & West Indies):
The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 has been revealed, featuring 15 players divided into different categories:
Batsmen:
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Sanju Samson (WK)
All-rounder:
- Shivam Dube
- Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain)
Spinners:
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Yuzvendra Chahal
Pacers:
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
Reserved Players:
Key Points:
- KL Rahul was notably absent from the squad.
- Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal returned to the T20I setup after previous absences.
- Shivam Dube earned his first World Cup call-up due to his impressive IPL performance.
7 thoughts on “Hardik Pandya Appointed As Vice Captain!!!: The Indian Squad For The T-20 World Cup 2024.”