The swashbuckling Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been the go-to man for Virat Kohli in the limited-overs cricket. His exploits with both bat and ball make him an exciting talent. However, Pandya has struggled with injuries in recent times which has kept him away from the game.
Notably, Pandya first suffered a back issue during Asia Cup 2018, which kept him out of action for a few months. He returned in 2019 and played against New Zealand. The back trouble also forced Pandya to miss India’s final series before World Cup – ODIs against Australia. Although Hardik Pandya played World Cup but was rested for West Indies tour. He decided to undergo back surgery last year and was deemed fit to return to international cricket in 2020.
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As a result, he was picked for the three-match series against South Africa. However, after a washout in the first game, the series was called off in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, due to his consistent absence, Hardik Pandya’s place in the team looks in jeopardy. But veteran cricketer Harbhajan Singh doesn’t feel so.
The out-of-favour India cricketer believes that Pandya will be an automatic selection for the ICC T20 World Cup if he is fit to go even if the Indian Premier League doesn’t take place.
“Hardik Pandya has not played after the World Cup. But I can give you in writing that if he is fit and irrespective of whether the IPL takes place or not, when the team will be made he will be in the team because if the team needs to maintain combination, he has to be in the team. You need this kind of players.
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So some players cannot be judged on IPL form. It is for them who are not proven players,” he told IANS.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2020 is slated to commence from October 18 in Australia. However, the future of the tournament looks bleak with the host country sealing its border for the next six months in the wake of COVID-19.