Hardik Pandya was included in India’s T20 World Cup squad to solve their problems but, so far, all he has done is aggravate them. 

The selectors picked him in the 15-member squad to provide the team with a balance in the batting and bowling department, but he has failed to deliver on both fronts. 

He hasn’t bowled a single ball in a long time while his batting form has seen a considerable dip in the last few months. 

© Reuters

Now, the question is, if his presence is not helping the side then why is he still there in the Indian team? After he didn’t bowl a single bowl during this year’s IPL, why did the selectors still keep him in the squad? 

Skipper Virat Kohli’s role was also questioned as many believed that he was the one who insisted on keeping Hardik in the team. But a report published in The Times of India provides a completely different insight into this whole saga. 

© Instagram/Hardik Pandya

According to the TOI report, the selection panel, led by former India fast bowler Chetan Sharma, wanted to right their wrong and remove Hardik from the World Cup squad after he didn’t bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. 

However, they had to change their mind after the newly-appointed mentor of the team MS Dhoni showed faith in Hardik’s ability as a finisher and forced the selectors to change their minds. 

“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,” a source told TOI. 

© Twitter/Hardik Pandya

Dhoni is known for his smart decision-making but fans think this time, he made a huge mistake by backing an out-of-form Hardik, who has given India more problems than solutions. 

Some even argued that Dhoni’s decision was a result of the equation he shares with Hardik on a personal level rather than his match-winning abilities and India might have to pay a heavy price for that. 

© Reuters

Fans are so unhappy with him that after he was declared fit for the New Zealand game, they prayed for him to remain unfit so that some other player could get a chance to feature in the starting XI. 

If India doesn't qualify, MSD and selectors should be blamed. Hopefully Virat is the last one who gets blamed.

— Shiva Karthika (@shivakarthika15) October 29, 2021

There lies the problem. This kind of backing for half-fit guys can be done in IPL not in high intense intl games. In ipl there are plenty of games to experiment & take chances. Here if u lose 1 game you are almost out of the tournament. Now we have a virtual knockout on Sunday.

— Just4Cricket (@GodLightTruth) October 29, 2021

There lies the problem. This kind of backing for half-fit guys can be done in IPL not in high intense intl games. In ipl there are plenty of games to experiment & take chances. Here if u lose 1 game you are almost out of the tournament. Now we have a virtual knockout on Sunday.

— Just4Cricket (@GodLightTruth) October 29, 2021

Don't know why Dhoni doesn't want the all-rounder in Lord Shardul to come out

— ° (@anubhav__tweets) October 29, 2021

Ek do ads kya kar liye saath mai

— Abhiffeeaakk // MY DOGGOO STAN ACT. (@wtf_abhishek) October 29, 2021

Finishing skills of Hardik... Finishing the chances of winning for India

— Soumen Mukherjee (@Soumen_mukherG) October 29, 2021

Finished the balance of the team indeed.

— Notcricfan (@imRamishArshad) October 29, 2021

If this decision backfired us then dont know who is to be blamed

— Viratiansworld_18 (@Viratiansworld1) October 29, 2021

Hardik is an all-rounder who is not fit enough to bowl right now and is going through a rough patch in batting but still, he is part of the Playing XI whereas players like Shardul Thakur or Ishan Kishan are warming the bench despite being totally fit. 

By including a half-fit player in the starting XI, the team management is sending a wrong message to the other deserving players in the squad, who have done everything in their capacity to deserve a chance but they sadly aren’t getting any.

© Reuters

Until now ,Hardik hasn’t done anything to justify his inclusion in the Playing XI but as Indian fans, we hope that he changes that in the upcoming matches and proves Dhoni right.

View the full article