Before traveling to the West for the main event, Hardik Pandya had to go through a difficult period. The five-time champion Mumbai Indians were the first team eliminated from the IPL 2024, thus his return home as captain didn’t have the expected effect. He had a lackluster season with the bat and ball, scoring 216 runs and taking 11 wickets in 14 matches, but the constant jeers and criticism were helpful.
But Hardik Pandya was a different animal entirely when he put on the blue Indian shirt. Hardik Pandya contributed one wicket to the winning cause and played a knock of 44 not out in the warm-up match against Bangladesh. The standards for him are greater now that he appears to be returning to form.
Yuvraj Singh won Player of the Tournament for his outstanding all-around performance in the one and only time that India won the T20 World Cup. All eyes will be on the Indian allrounders as the men in blue attempt to snap a ten-year drought of ICC crowns, particularly Hardik Pandya, who is this time around Rohit Sharma’s deputy.
Hardik Pandya Is The Key For India
According to former India opener Wasim Jaffer, for India to have a good chance of winning, Pandya must emulate Yuvraj Singh’s valiant performances from the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2007 T20 World Cup. Yuvi was instrumental in both the victories under MS Dhobi in 2007 and 2011 respectively, contributing with both bat and ball.
In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, Jaffer stated that Hardik would need to stand up on this significant occasion and that all-rounders will play a critical role for India.
“When India won the World Cup in 2011 and 2007 (T20), Yuvraj Singh’s role was very crucial. So they will be hoping that Hardik Pandya steps up as an all-rounder. The role of both Hardik and Shivam Dube will be very crucial. Even Jadeja and Axar as all-rounders will be important where you may play two left-arm spinners,” Jaffer told ESPNCricinfo.
“I think Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja all three will play. You can unleash Axar Patel too against sides that you feel are a bit weak against spin. But the aforementioned three all-rounders will play according to me,” he added.
Dube will be participating in his first World Cup, although Hardik Pandya has been competing in ICC competitions since 2016. The potent all-rounder made two vital hits in the most recent T20 World Cup: one against Pakistan (40) in the group stage and another against England (63).
Pandya’s all round prowess can help Captain Rohit Sharma to pick a balanced side almost every match. It will be interesting to see how the hard hitting all rounder will perform against the bigger teams like Pakistan, Australia and England.
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