The possible inclusion of Hardik Pandya in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad has recently sparked debate among cricket experts and fans. The 30-year-old has been a major talking point during the first three weeks of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Ever since Pandya has been announced as the new captain of Mumbai Indians in place of India’s all-format captain Rohit Sharma. Fans have been widely disappointed by the controversial decision of IPL 2024.
MI’s newly appointed captain was heavily criticized at various stadiums, including Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad as well as Mumbai’s home ground – Wankhede Stadium.
Furthermore, MI started their IPL 2024 campaign with three consecutive losses under Hardik, although the five-time IPL winners have bounced back with back-to-back wins in their next two matches.
Fitness and finishing ability concerns
Apart from Hardik’s captaincy, his all-round form and finishing ability in the current IPL is also under question.
Hardik, the limited overs vice-captain of the Indian cricket team, has scored 129 runs in five matches for MI this season.
The hard-hitting batsman continued his form after scoring an unbeaten 21 off just six balls against Royals Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to help them chase down 197 in just 15.3 overs at the Wankhede on Thursday. Showed a glimpse of comeback.
Apart from this, questions have also been raised on Hardik’s fitness for the ICC’s marquee T20 tournament.
The Indian all-rounder has battled fitness concerns over the past few years and has cut down his workload with the ball to get the best from an all-round perspective.
The Gujarat-born cricketer has bowled just eight overs in five matches in IPL 2024, taking just one wicket at an economy of 11.13.
Hardik recently made a comeback in IPL 2024 after being ruled out of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 due to an ankle injury against Bangladesh in October.
Of course, Rohit Sharma-led India will need a fully fit Hardik in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States.
In-form Shivam Dubey can overtake Hardik Pandya
While Hardik’s all-round ability provides great balance to Team India in the T20 format, if he is not fully fit then players like Shivam Dubey and Rinku Singh could be better options as finishers in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad .
Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has expressed support for the inclusion of Shivam Dubey in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad.
“Shivam Dubey for his striking ability against spinners, Surya for being the best T20 International batsman and Rinku Singh for his exceptional finishing ability. It would be great if India finds some way to include these 3 in their 11 in the T20 World Cup Find out. With Virat and Rohit, it will leave room for just one keeper batsman. Interesting to see how it turns out,” Prasad posted on Twitter.
Shivam Dubey of Chennai Super Kings has been in great form in IPL 2024. Batting in the middle order, Dubey has scored 176 runs in five matches at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 160. He has hit 10 fours and 13 sixes. As yet.
Apart from Prasad, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has said that Dubey should be included in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Yuvraj wrote on Twitter, “@IamGood to see Shivam Dubey clearing the field with ease!! I think he should be in the World Cup squad. He has the skills to be a #gamechanger.”
Earlier, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had urged India to select Dubey in the T20 World Cup squad after his impressive performance in the three-match series against Afghanistan in January.
“Hardik Pandya is an indispensable member of the Indian team. However, with the emergence of Shivam Dubey, especially in conditions like CSK in the West Indies, he has become a spin-hitting monster,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“I can proudly call him the ‘Yuvraj Singh Lite’ package. There are a lot of aspects of Yuvraj Singh that I see in his game – the downswing, the height and the reach. I’m not saying he’s exactly like Yuvraj Singh But he reminds me a lot of him, the beauty here is that he hits the spin straight down the ground,” Ashwin said.
Hardik faces tough competition from Shivam Dubey and will have to prove his fitness as well as impress the selectors with his all-round game in the remaining matches for MI before the team finals.
The Indian cricket team’s 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup is likely to be announced in the last week of April and vice-captain Hardik’s place is still uncertain.
Although a return to form and maintaining his fitness has every chance of Hardik getting a spot for the T20 World Cup, considering the all-rounder’s recent form as well as his fitness issues while batting in the death overs, it is safe to say that That a 30-year-old kid should be included in the team is definitely not a given.
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