Former head coach of Team India Ravi Shastri feels that the all-rounder Hardik Pandya should not play T20s till the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. The mega-event will take place in Australia, later this year in November.
Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans team to the Indian Premier League 2022 championship title. He was the leading run-scorer for the franchise, averaging 44.27 in the tournament. The all-rounder took three wickets in the finals, to help his team win the title. Hardik was part of the Indian team last year for the ICC T20 World Cup. He did bowl in the tournament but did not look fully fit. However, his recent performance in the Indian Premier League looks promising.
Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri expressed that Hardik should be a part of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. He added that the all-rounder should stick to playing just the shorter format till the World Cup. Speaking on Star Sports show, ‘Game Plan’, Shastri said:
“He will walk back into that squad for me either as a batter or as an all-rounder. I don’t think he is that badly injured where he cannot bowl you two overs. He has had ample rest and he will continue to have ample rest because that’s the only format he should play going into the World Cup. They shouldn’t take the risk of making him play ODI cricket.”
Hardik Pandya does the job for two players – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri further added that Hardik Pandya’s all-round capabilities are an asset for the team. He expressed that the all-rounder can bat in the top four or also in the middle-order. Shastri said:
“Massive, he does the job for two players. A Hardik Pandya playing just as a batter would mean he has to bat in the top four or five, but Hardik Pandya playing as an all-rounder means he can bat at five, six, or four and still bowl those two-three overs for you.”
Hardik Pandya was included in the 18-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. The five-match series begins on June 9 in Delhi.
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