Right after the announcement of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, a great controversy arose regarding the inclusion of Hardik Pandya for the marquee event.
The BCCI selection committee made a bold move by including out-of-form Hardik Pandya for the ICC event and snubbed playing like Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh.
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed in a press conference that Hardik Pandya’s selection was down to a lack of alternatives but later a report revealed that the selection committee was under pressure to pick the all-rounder.
To conclude the rumours regarding Hardik Pandya’s selection, BCCI secretary Jay Shah revealed the reason behind his inclusion, saying players can’t be picked purely on the basis of IPL form.
In a chat with the TOI, Shah asserted the need to put overseas experience also into account as selectors pick squads for a tournament of the stature of the T20 World Cup.
“It has a good balance between form and experience. The selectors cannot choose on the basis of IPL performance alone, as overseas experience is also necessary,” he said.
Earlier a report had claimed that neither Rohit Sharma nor the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, was in favour of selecting Hardik.
The report added that Hardik was picked for the World Cup 2024 under ‘pressure‘. But the report didn’t give a clarity regarding the kind of pressure – situational pressure (as he is India’s top fast-bowling allrounder) or pressure from some officials.
The report also attributed sources as saying that captain Rohit Sharma, Ajit Agarkar, and some selectors were against Pandya’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup team, during the selection meeting in Ahmedabad.
Though team India named Shivam Dube in the squad his bowling skills will not beat Mumbai Indians’ all-rounder’s skill set. Notably, Hardik Pandya also played valuable knocks for Team India at crucial moments.
Hardik played his last T20I match on August 13, 2023, against West Indies in Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground. Notably, the five-match T20I series was captained by Hardik Pandya which India lost by 3-2.
DNB – Did Not Bat
