India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been under the scanner after his below-par show in the game against Pakistan last Sunday. He hasn’t started bowling regularly since the start of the second phase of IPL 2021 as well. Meanwhile, a report in the TOI suggested that the Selection Committee wanted to send Hardik back to India but it was Team India’s mentor MS Dhoni who backed Hardik Pandya to stay there for his finishing skills.
“The truth is that the selectors wanted to send him back to India after he didn’t bowl in the IPL, but MS Dhoni (appointed Team India mentor) vouched for his finishing skills,” TOI quoted a source as saying.”The whole mystery around his fitness has been going on for the last six months. You’re now saying that he has a shoulder injury. In the bargain, you aren’t giving a chance to a fit guy. You’re playing an unfit guy who isn’t useful to the team. It’s not right. Because of him, you’re neglecting other fit guys who have been performing well,” he further added.
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On the other hand, Hardik Pandya was recently seen bowling in the nets and he is expected to bowl a few overs in the next game against New Zealand on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as well. Meanwhile, former chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil recently lashed out at the selectors for selecting Hardik Pandya without conducting a proper fitness test.
While speaking to TOI, Patil said: “His selection in the XI is up to the captain and the coach, and only the BCCI will know about it. But basically, if a player is not fit, then it comes to the selectors. If he didn’t bowl in the entire IPL, the selectors should have taken a call. They should have asked for a fitness test before including him in the team for the World Cup.”
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“Someone has to be accountable. There’s no comment from (India coach) Ravi Shastri. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane said that he’s fit. How can you say he’s fit, if he became unfit during the match? I mean, this is the World Cup, not just any series or match,” he concluded.
