Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians and an all-round player for Team India, just returned after a prolonged injury. His injury also prevented him from competing in the last stages of the ODI World Cup 2023 last year, which dealt a serious setback to the Men in Blue as the competition neared its conclusion.
Hardik, who joined the MI after leaving the Gujarat Titans, hasn't made much of an impression in his comeback to cricket. There are questions about the 30-year-old's fitness and health because he hasn't been able to make an impression in this league with either the bat or the ball.
🗣️ “We will dissect, do our homework, and try to return better as a team.” 👊
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 15, 2024
Read Kieron Pollard's comments on Hardik’s fighting spirit, bowling at the Wankhede, and MS Dhoni 👇#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #MIvCSKhttps://t.co/74jkwMkABe
He bowled just one or two overs for Mumbai in a recent couple of games, and because of poor shot selection on that particular day, he was unable to contribute with the bat either. Given this, a lot of experts are unsure about the player's status for the Indian cricket squad in the next T20 World Cup 2024.
Hardik would probably not be considered a batter in the World Cup playing eleven if he cannot bowl his four overs for the squad, according to cricket expert Harsha Bhogle, who made this statement lately. Hardik's inclusion in the squad as an all-around player is warranted.
Simon Doull, a former cricket player for New Zealand, echoed Harsha's ideas and even said that Hardik Pandya might be concealing an injury that is preventing him from playing for the Mumbai Indians.
Selectors will need to consider these considerations when deciding whether or not to include Hardik in the T20 World Cup squad, which is expected to be revealed sometime during the IPL.
In his six games as MI captain thus far, Hardik has lost four of them. The most recent one was at the Wankhede against MS Dhoni and the Chennai Super Kings.
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