There have been many concerns over Hardik Pandya’s performance, whether with the bat or ball, throughout the ongoing IPL 2024. With the ball, not only did he skip bowling duties for a few matches, which sparked a debate over his fitness. and possible place in the T20 World Cup squad, he has conceded over 11 runs this season with a dismal strike rate.
However, on Monday, in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Hardik put up his best show with the ball, picking three wickets in four overs at an economy rate of 7.80. Coming over after the powerplay ended, Hardik was smashed for four boundaries in the first 12 balls before bouncing back to dismiss Nitish Reddy with a short delivery and then getting rid of Shahbaz Ahmed and Marco Jansen in his final over . on. His performance left former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar delighted on air when he said: “This is the best of Hardik’s bowling we have seen.”
Hardik was also appreciated by his teammate and Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who celebrated with his second wicket before giving him a pat on the back.
Hardik’s brilliant show with the ball also augurs well for India, who will open their T20 World Cup campaign in exactly a month’s time against Ireland in New York before taking on Pakistan at the same venue on June 9 . full quota of four overs in three consecutive matches for Mumbai Indians, picking seven wickets.
Even amid reports that Hardik might be overlooked for the T20 World Cup amid his forgettable run in IPL 2024, the BCCI selection committee has entrusted him with the vice-captain duties for the World Cup imminent. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar justified the call by saying that there is no substitute for Hardik’s all-round ability.
“Not really, nothing has been discussed as far as the vice-captain position is concerned, that’s one answer. Fitness. I mean, you want all the guys to be in good shape. I think he came after a long layoff The good part we looked at “is that he has played all the matches so far for MI. We have a month and a bit left before we play our first match,” Agarkar told reporters in Mumbai last week.
