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Arguably one of the most important and rather worrisome problems that the Indian cricket team needs to face and get over is whether or not Hardik Pandya will be available as a bowler during the T20 World Cup 2021 match against New Zealand. In the pre-match press conference, skipper Virat Kohli had expressed the need for every single team in this edition of the World Cup to have a sixth bowling option, just to be able to deliver a couple of good overs. "Game situation dictates when to use your sixth bowling option. In our last match, if they (Pakistan) batted first, I could also have bowled one or two overs. But in the second innings when we needed wickets, we just had to bowl our primary bowlers. It's not that a team with six-seven bowling options doesn’t lose," the Indian captain had said. On the same day, videos began to appear on social media in which Pandya could be seen putting in some minutes in the nets trying to get back in his groove with the ball after not being able to do so for the entire 2021 season of the Indian Premier League. Hardik Pandya bowling in nets ahead of #IND vs #NZ clash.. Retweet appreciated pic.twitter.com/FUsI48fArb — Tanish CricShot (@tanish_18VK) October 30, 2021 Former Indian cricketer and fast-bowler, Ajit Agarkar has now expressed concerns about Kohli’s idea of making Pandya bowl a few overs against the great Black Cap hitters, especially because he has had just a couple of days to practice in the nets before bowling at a stage as big as the World Cup. “Yes, we did see Hardik in the nets. But he hasn't bowled in the last couple of months. And as a bowler, I know how difficult it is to come and bowl during a match situation. So I feel this shouldn't happen where a bowler isn't fully fit and that costs you the game. And the bowler won't be at fault here. So it will be a risky option expecting the bowler, who has been out for so many months, to perform after only two days of practice. That will surely not be my sixth bowling option hence India are likely to play with just five bowlers,” he said speaking to ESPNCricinfo. "Maybe if Kohli bowls one or two overs in between then that would be the best possible solution for India as of now. There is a question mark now how much Hardik can deliver as a bowler," he added. View the full article