The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to name Team India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 by the end of April as well. And, former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary backed Shivam Dube to be in the side, ahead of Hardik Pandya. However, Tiwary has said that Hardik needs to bowl more often in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 if he wants to be in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad as well. The Mumbai Indians captain has bowled only a solitary over in the last three games this season as well.
“If he wants to play in the Indian T20 World Cup team as an all-rounder, he has to bowl. Look at his economy rate. It’s almost 11. He is not performing this season,” Tiwary said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.
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Manoj Tiwary also shared that BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar is a strong character and if Hardik Pandya does not return to form, then Agarkar will not pick him in the T20 World Cup squad as well. Tiwary also said that all-rounder Shivam Dube is the potential replacement for Hardik as well, however, he said that if the all-rounder does not get selected, it will be because Chennai Super Kings are not allowing him to bowl during IPL 2024 as well.
“With this form, Hardik won’t be picked in the T20 World Cup. See, Agarkar is a strong character and hence can take those bold decisions. And if Dube is not picked in the T20 World Cup, CSK will be responsible for it, because they are not allowing him to bowl. I have been saying this for a long time, if you want a replacement for Hardik, get Dube ready,” he added.
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“At one time we also had Venkatesh Iyer. Suddenly, both of them stopped bowling. We should be looking at the bigger goal. We are talking about the World Cup here and India haven’t been able to lift that trophy for a long time. So, we have to plan for that ahead of time. Now Hardik is not in form and if you pick Dube in the squad, how much he can perform as a bowler is not known. But as far as I know, Dube is a clever bowler. Remember that T20I series at home against Afghanistan,” Manoj Tiwary concluded.
