Former India opener Gautam Gambhir said that Hardik Pandya can only be a part of Team India’s playing XI in the upcoming mega event – T20 World Cup if he performs well as a bowler. However, Pandya was initially added to India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup.

However, with uncertainties about his bowling, the Indian selectors included Shardul Thakur in place of Axar Patel to strengthen the seam-bowling department. And, Gambhir has shared that Hardik Pandya needs to prove his bowling fitness in the two warmup encounters to make Team India’s playing XI. He said while previewing the upcoming T20 World Cup during a discussion on the Star Sports show – Game Plan.

The former Indian opener said: “For me, Hardik Pandya gets into India’s playing XI only if he does proper bowling in both warmup games, not only in the nets. There is a huge difference between bowling in the nets and against quality batsmen like Babar Azam and that too in the World Cup.”

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He further added: “He has to bowl in the practice matches and the nets, and he has to bowl 100 percent. If you are thinking that you will come and bowl just at 115-120 kph, I will not take that risk.”

However, Hardik Pandya has been suffering from multiple injuries lately. Moreover, he did not bowl a single delivery for the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the IPL 2021 and even missed a couple of games due to fitness issues a swell. Gautam Gambhir also stated that he would opt to play Ishan Kishan before Pandya if the latter is playing only as a specialist batsman in the team.

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“If I have to go with just five bowlers, then I will pick Ishan Kishan ahead of Hardik Pandya on current form. If you are going with five proper bowlers and six batsmen, Hardik’s form is probably a massive concern. Forget about the bowling, with the bat as well,” Gautam Gambhir concluded.