Perfection requires time, and achieving perfection entails following a meticulous process. No one is born perfect even it may be MS Dhoni or the young leader Hardik Pandya, but a well-defined process can mold someone into perfection. The same principle applies in cricket, where 11 players on the field strive for perfection, but much depends on the leadership which was quite strange by Hardik Pandya in the 3rd T20I
In the mid-90s, there was a popular saying: ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ Some people received those lemons, while others didn’t. However, it’s in our hands to turn those lemons into lemonade. Hardik Pandya, who enjoys blind trust in the Indian cricket management, Indian selectors, and many more, continues to find ways to make headlines in newspapers with his controversial statements.
Despite facing match bans due to his surprising statements on a reality show, the trend of making significant and irrelevant statements shows no signs of stopping. This raises the question: Is Hardik a suitable fit for a leadership role in the T20 World Cup 2024?”
Is Hardik Pandya a good candidate for T20 World Cup?
Every player goes through ups and downs; even cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli experienced epic downfalls but emerged stronger from those situations. Hardik Pandya, known for his casual behavior, now serves as the stand-in captain for India in the T20 format. He took the captaincy from Rohit Sharma after India suffered a shameful loss in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England in 2022.
Neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli has played a single T20I since that defeat. Hardik has often mentioned, ‘This is my team,’ after taking over the captaincy. No problem in mentioning that this is his team, but the issue lies in Hardik Pandya’s casual approach and excessive flamboyance, which isn’t a pleasing sight to watch.
Hardik, who made his international T20 debut in January 2016, was rewarded for his exceptional performance in the IPL and his all-rounder abilities. Some people still compare him to Ben Stokes. However, as of now, Ben Stokes has elevated his game to the next level, while Pandya, who used to consistently bowl and bat, now tends to bowl based on his mood and fitness.
The primary reason the Indian selectors entrusted Pandya with the captaincy role in the 20-over format is because he led his team, Gujarat Titans, to victory in their debut IPL season. While Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma captained the Indian side, India was always considered favorites to win the T20 World Cup. However, this remained elusive under their leadership.
The tag of favorites no longer rests with the current Indian side, largely due to the behavior of Captain Hardik Pandya. Hardik Pandya’s highest score was 30 not out while captaining India against New Zealand in New Zealand in November 2022. This highlights how he has been struggling with poor form with the bat while captaining.
Bold and Futile Statements
Hardik, who has been known for his off-field statements, made some pathetic remarks in 2018. ‘Koffee with Karan’ Season 6 was a hot topic of discussion among cricket fans, as it featured two rising stars, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. During the show, Hardik Pandya was seen making misogynistic comments about women. This incident marked a significant setback for both Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, as both cricketers faced match bans.
In the July 2021 series against Sri Lanka, Hardik stated to the local broadcaster, ‘We could pick two more teams and win any competition in the world.’ However, this statement lacked relevance, as even the least prosperous cricket board can assemble two or more teams. The true measure lies in the team’s ability to win. Forming multiple teams might be straightforward, but achieving victory with those teams proves to be considerably more challenging. In the ongoing T20I series against West Indies, India lost 2 T20Is under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya.
During the post-match presentation of the 3rd ODI against West Indies on August 1st, Hardik Pandya remarked, ‘We don’t ask for luxuries, but we do expect basic necessities to be taken care of”. Even captains like Virat and Rohit have never publicly made such demands. Every other team tours West Indies without getting involved in making such statements.
Hardik Pandya denies Tilak Varma chance to hit fifty
In the recently concluded 3rd T20I against West Indies, Indian batsman Tilak Varma was batting on 49 not out, just one run away from making his second T20I fifty. India needed 2 runs in 14 balls, and Hardik Pandya was at the strike. Fans expected a better outcome, as they were looking forward to Tilak Varma getting his reward for his mature innings by completing his 50. However, Hardik Pandya had other plans, as he hit a six and finished the match with 13 balls to spare, leaving Tilak Varma not out on 49 runs.
In response, fans expressed their anger towards Hardik Pandya by commenting on social media about his behavior. They also drew comparisons between the Tilak Varma-Hardik Pandya incident and the Dhoni-Virat act. Fans posted a video of Mahendra Singh Dhoni defending a delivery to allow Kohli, who had scored a fifty, to hit the winning runs against South Africa in the 2014 T20 World Cup Semifinal.
Is their Any Ego Issues within the Team ?
In 2022, while leading the side in a T20 match against New Zealand in New Zealand, Hardik, when asked something about the selection in the playing 11 during the post-match press conference, replied,
“Pahli baat toh bahar kaun kya bol raha hai, usse is level pe fadak nahi padta. Ye meri team hai, head coach aur mujhe jo theek lagega, jo side humein chahiye hoga (hum wo khilayenge)” –
which translates to “First things first, who is saying what outside doesn’t really affect us at this level. This is my team, and I’ll pick the best side after discussing it with the coach.
After Hardik Pandya made the statement that “this is my team,” Fans can infer an ego clash and confusion within the management of Indian cricket. This perception arose because he seemed to be asserting ownership over the team. However, recently, Rohit Sharma, who has been out of the T20I team for a while, stated, “At the moment, I think it was made clear in the past that it’s a 50-over World Cup year for us. And for some of the guys, it’s not possible to play all formats.
If you look at the schedule, there were back-to-back matches, so we decided to consider some players’ workload. We wanted to ensure they had sufficient break time and manage them. I definitely fall into that category as well,” Rohit said at an event in the United States of America. Fans are not entirely sure who will be the supreme leader leading India in the 2024 T20 World Cup. While Hardik Pandya stated that it’s his team, Rohit clarified that he has been resting from T20Is due to the focus on the 50-over World Cup.
Will the Ajit Agarkar-Led Selection Committee Make the Same Blunders as the Chetan Sharma-Led Panel?
In the past, the Chetan Sharma-led Selection Committee made unforgettable blunders during the 2022 T20 World Cup, such as the inclusion of Dinesh Karthik. Now, the main question arises: will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli be given a chance in T20Is? There has been no official confirmation from the selectors that they have moved on from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in T20Is.
With only 300 days left until the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India needs to stick with the same playing core. There could be confusion if the Indian selectors revert to including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It is Ajit Agarkar’s prime responsibility to clarify whether they intend to continue with both of them or if they plan to bring Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back into the squad for next year’s World Cup. India must avoid chopping and changing at the eleventh hour, as they often tend to do close to every World Cup.
Also Read: IND v WI: Hardik Pandya’s Bizzare Tactics Cast Shadow Over India’s Hopes in 3rd T20