Given his dismal performance in the Indian Premier League, not many people agreed with the selection of India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Many questioned Hardik’s abilities as an all-rounder and skipper, particularly after Mumbai Indians finished last in the 10-team points standings.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former cricket player for India, disagrees that the decision to choose an all-rounder for the T20 World Cup was incorrect. To support his choice, Manjrekar really emphasized Hardik’s outstanding World Cup performance.
“I have been repeatedly saying, even before this match, if you see Hardik Pandya’s performances in World Cups, he played the all-rounder’s role very well in the 2019 World Cup, he had a main performance in the India-Pakistan match on the big stage, and see his performance with the bat in the semi-final India lost in Adelaide, he scored 60 runs at a strike rate of 190,” he stated on Star Sports.
“Because he was facing pressure from outside, he had a minor temperamental problem during the IPL. It could not have been a good setting. After wearing India’s blues instead of the Mumbai Indians’, I won’t be shocked if he feels a little more at ease and relieved. The former Indian batter continued, “He has the talent, and I have said it again and again: he is a big-match player.
As he plays for India in the T20 World Cup, former Indian batter Sanjay Bangar reiterated Manjrekar’s remarks, stating that Hardik’s contributions to the Mumbai Indians shouldn’t be overlooked.
“You shouldn’t look at his prior performance when representing India. It is highly recommended that you view his contributions to India. He has an amazing record in cricket at the World Cup. He stated, “He has shown incredible performances in all three formats, whether he is playing for India in the 50-over, 20-over, or Test cricket.
“There was a phase in the middle for sure where he got injured and because of that he couldn’t play much, but whenever he comes, the Indian team’s balance becomes much better,” Bangar said
