Former India cricketer turned famous commentator Aakash Chopra said that Indian selectors might bring some changes in the 15-member squad that has been picked for the T20 World Cup earlier. According to Chopra, since Hardik Pandya is not in his best form at the moment, he might not be retained in the final India squad for T20 World Cup 2021.
However, Hardik Pandya did not bowl a single ball for Mumbai Indians’ (MI) in the IPL 2021 campaign. With the bat, he scored only 127 runs in 12 games as well. In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Chopra stated that keeping Pandya in the squad for the T20 World Cup amid this scenario could affect the balance of the team.
He explained: “When Hardik Pandya was picked in the 15 for the T20 World Cup, the selectors assumed he would be bowling. That’s why they named only three fast bowlers in the squad. Hardik was supposed to be used as the fourth bowler.”I am told, I don’t know for sure, that the selectors were given a guarantee Hardik would start bowling soon. But, Rohit Sharma recently confirmed that he hasn’t bowled a single ball yet. So, he’s not bowling, and his batting form is absolutely absent.”
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“He (Hardik) might not be in the team. Things can change radically. Six months back he was our most valuable asset. But now, it won’t be a surprise if Shardul Thakur comes in.”The balance of the side has been affected because Bhuveshwar Kumar’s form is 50:50. That leaves India with only Bumrah and Shami,” he further added.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Shreyas Iyer have been named as reserves in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup. Apart from that, the BCCI also named former India captain MS Dhoni as a mentor.
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“He will help India in picking the right XI. He will read the pitch conditions very well. Players who are down on confidence will look to MSD for inspiration and gain confidence. Dhoni knows how to keep the team united and he will ensure that India keeps it simple. I am pretty sure there will be no conflict with coach Ravi Shastri. Both Dhoni and Shastri are strong characters and, if they work together, they can do wonders. They have a common goal,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
