Former India player Sandeep Patil has questioned national selectors for adding Hardik Pandya to India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2021, despite his issues with fitness. Notably, Pandya has not bowled much since his back surgery after having sustained an injury in October 2019.
And, Patil stated that the all-rounder did not bowl a single ball in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League also which suggested that a fitness test should have been taken place before his selection. Patil also stated that he is unimpressed with Team India head coach Ravi Shastri’s silence on this matter. He feels that this type of gamble should not be taken in an important tournament like the World Cup.
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“His selection in the XI is up to the captain and the coach, and only the BCCI will know about it,” Patil was quoted as saying by The Times of India. “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.”
he continued: “Someone has to be accountable,” added Patil. “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.”
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On the other hand, Hardik Pandya was seen bowling during India’s recent practice session at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Wednesday. But, there is no possibility of him rolling the arms against New Zealand as well. However, after facing 1 10-wicket defeat to arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, Team India will try to bounce back in their upcoming match against the Kiwis on Sunday (October 31) at the Dubai International Stadium as well.
