Hardik

Hardik Pandya’s injury scare touched upon as 2007 T20 World Cup winner sets all-rounder’s bowling workload

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

Hardik Pandya is among the Indian players in New York gearing up for the start of the 2024 T20 World Cup and there are possibly more eyes on him and how he performs than any of his teammates. Pandya, who captained India in T20Is for much of 2023, had a horrific 2024 season in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which was also his first season as captain of the Mumbai Indians. Hardik Pandya bowled sparingly for much of the first half of the IPL(AFP) A host of off-field issues resulting from his replacing Rohit Sharma as captain of MI in his first season back with the franchises led to the fans at the Wankhede Stadium, and almost every other stadium in the country, turning on him. This seemed to affect his own and the team’s performance as well, with the five-time champions finishing bottom of the table with just four wins in 14 matches. Pandya picked 11 wickets in 14 matches but also had an economy of 10.75. He scored just 216 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 143.05 and average of 18.00. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! The all-rounder was picked in the Indian team for the 2024 T20 World Cup despite this form and former fast bowler RP Singh has said that Pandya will have to bowl his full quota of four overs in the tournament. “Hardik bowled in the IPL and bowled four overs so there’s no injury scare. Hardik’s bowling will be important and he will have to bowl all his quota of 4-overs,” he said. There was renewed speculation over Pandya’s fitness in the first half of the IPL when he bowled sparingly. However, he picked up his bowling workload as the tournament progressed. ‘If Dube bowls it’ll be added advantage for India’ Singh also said that Shivam Dube bowling for India would be an added advantage for the 2007 champions. “If Shivam Dube bowls too, then it will be an added advantage for India ahead. Shivam may not play some matches initially but whenever he plays, he will perform well and score runs for India,” he said. Pandya had to deal with boos and jeers in almost every stadium of the country, particularly in Mumbai where fans seemed to have never accepted him as a replacement for Rohit Sharma. Pandya had been traded by the Gujarat Titans, whom he had led to the title in their debut IPL season and the runners-up position in the next, to the Mumbai Indians in the most high-profile before the auction last year. However, there was widespread anger among MI fans over him replacing Rohit as captain Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more.Explore now !. Stay updated with the latest cricket news, T20 World Cup 2024 updates, and match highlights. Explore the World Cup Schedule 2024, track the World Cup Points Table, follow Virat Kohli’s performance, and stay ahead with the stats on World Cup Most Wickets and World Cup Most Runs on the Hindustan Times website and app. News / Cricket News / Hardik Pandya’s injury scare touched upon as 2007 T20 World Cup winner sets all-rounder’s bowling workload

‘Virat caught my catch, Ben Stokes came out of…’: Dinesh Karthik reveals how Kohli, Rohit sledged ex-RCB star in IPL

Danijones5 months ago05 mins

Player of many comebacks, Dinesh Karthik, drew curtains on his illustrious career after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowed out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the playoffs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s heartbreaking loss to former champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024 Eliminator turned out to be Karthik’s swansong. RCB’s Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik after the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 T20 cricket match (PTI) Before Karthik called time on his playing career, the former RCB wicketkeeper-batter was sledged by Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya in the IPL 2024. While discussing the sledge talks in the IPL, the former RCB star also mentioned Virat Kohli. Karthik recalled that Kohli often poked him whenever the former RCB skipper completed his dismissal in the cash-rich league. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir gives blunt take on Mitchell Starc’s ‘ball of IPL 2024’: ‘Don’t know whether I should say…’ ‘Every time I played against RCB and Virat Kohli…’ “Every time I played against RCB and Virat Kohli caught my catch, ‘Ben Stokes’ came out of his mouth for sure. But that was a send-off. Hardik Pandya sledged me saying ‘Abhi leg-spinner aaya, iska thank you hi hai’ [Now a leg spinner will come, and it is Thank You time] Then I had to play a couple of shots, and then he was like ‘Theek hai, thoda improve hogaya lag raha hai’. [Looks like he’s improved a bit]. That was good,” Karthik told Cricbuzz. ‘Rohit Sharma was also taunting…’ Karthik is one of the seven players who have played in every season of the IPL so far. Turning 39 in June, the former RCB star had an eventful season with the Kohli-starrer side in the IPL 2024. Nicknamed DK, Karthik smashed 326 runs in 15 games. “He’s a good friend. He was also like ‘commentator banke bhi thoda kaam kar raha hai’. [Even after becoming a commentator, he’s working on his game] That was fun. Rohit Sharma was also taunting me this year… unnecessarily giving me hopes,” Karthik added. Karthik played 26 Tests, 94 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 60 T20Is for India. The former India star made his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals (DC) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in 2008. The 38-year-old has played 257 matches in the world’s richest T20 league. DK accumulated 4842 in the IPL. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more.Explore now !. Stay updated with the latest cricket news, T20 World Cup 2024 updates, and match highlights. Explore the World Cup Schedule 2024, track the World Cup Points Table, follow Virat Kohli’s performance, and stay ahead with the stats on World Cup Most Wickets and World Cup Most Runs on the Hindustan Times website and app. News / Cricket News / ‘Virat caught my catch, Ben Stokes came out of…’: Dinesh Karthik reveals how Kohli, Rohit sledged ex-RCB star in IPL

Hardik Pandya’s vice-captaincy appointment for T20 WC challenged by Irfan Pathan: ‘Bumrah wouldn’t have been bad choice’ | Crickit

Danijones6 months ago07 mins

Hardik Pandya’s tale of woe is well documented in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League. From breaking the hearts of Gujarat Titans fans to upsetting Rohit Sharma faithful by taking over the captaincy reigns, Pandya has been facing the wrath of jeering fans in the IPL 2024. Becoming a staunch critic of Hardik, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan recently took aim at selectors for prioritising the selection of the MI skipper. Pathan has questioned the appointment of India’s new vice-captain for T20 World Cup (AFP-PTI) Launching a fresh attack on Hardik following his return to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup, Pathan questioned the appointment of the new vice-captain. Even though Hardik has struggled to revive MI’s campaign in the IPL 2024, the star all-rounder was picked as Rohit’s deputy for the T20 World Cup. Hardik was also the vice-captain of the Indian team at the 2023 World Cup. However, an ankle injury cut short his campaign in the ICC event last year. HT launches Crick-it, a one stop destination to catch Cricket, anytime, anywhere. Explore now! ‘Hardik held the captaincy but Rohit…’ “Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains. Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya’s performance consistency and commitment to Indian cricket. Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player’s return. But then there’s this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements,” Pathan told Star Sports. Hardik escaped ‘Kishan-Iyer’ treatment In the lead-up to the IPL 2024, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan didn’t receive contract extensions for ignoring BCCI’s directive to play in the Ranji Trophy. Pathan had then claimed that Hardik was not judged using the same parameters. All-rounder Hardik was drafted in the Grade A category when the BCCI revealed its annual central contracts list. After recovering from an ankle injury in the build-up to IPL 2024, Hardik made his return to competitive cricket in the DY Patil tournament. ‘Whether you’re Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli…’ “That shouldn’t happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment. Cricket isn’t like tennis; it’s a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally. Regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost. I’ve witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket—instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable,” the former India all-rounder added. Hardik’s flop show in IPL 2024 With Hardik succeeding Rohit at MI for IPL 2024, the five-time winners made an awful start to the new season by losing their first three games. Hardik’s MI side is placed ninth in the IPL with six points in 10 matches. Despite flopping with the bat and ball in the IPL 2024, Hardik was added to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup. Instead of appointing Hardik as vice-captain, Irfan argued that the national selectors should have picked pace ace Jasprit Bumrah as Rohit’s deputy for the ICC event. ‘Bumrah wouldn’t have been a bad choice either’ “To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, it’s imperative that every player is treated fairly and equally. So, now, coming back to your question about Hardik Pandya being vice-captain, I understand the rationale behind it due to the importance of continuity in leadership. However, considering the current performance, the selectors opting for continuity may be understandable. Yet, I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn’t have been a bad choice either,” Pathan concluded.

Ashutosh Sharma was unbelievable, our nerves were tested: MI skipper Hardik

Danijones7 months ago06 mins

Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya and Punjab Kings’ stand-in captain Sam Curran during the toss ceremony before an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 cricket match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, in Mohali, on April 18, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Punjab Kings’ cricketer Ashutosh Sharma’s exploits with the willow drew enormous praise from Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya as well as his team’s stand-in captain Sam Curran, with the former terming it an “unbelievable” display. Ashutosh and Shashank Singh have emerged as the unlikely heroes for Punjab Kings this IPL season but the failure of the top-order has seen the team slump to ninth spot in the IPL table despite the some breathtaking performances from the duo. On Thursday, Ashutosh virtually took the game away from Mumbai Indians with his 28-ball 61 before PBKS lost by nine runs chasing 193. Ashutosh also executed a stunning sweep shot against pacer Jasprit Bumrah, something which has not been done quite often against India’s pace spearhead. “Unbelievable, playing the way he (Ashutosh) did and hitting the ball off the middle. (It is) great for his future. We did speak in the timeout about it, not about how we look, we will keep fighting and make sure (that) we don’t bowl the soft balls. Batsmen played good shots but we were soft in certain overs,” Mr.Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony. The MI skipper heaved a huge sigh of relief with a close win, stating that every player’s nerves got tested in the game. “(It was a) very good game. Everyone’s nerves got tested. We spoke that the characters will be checked in this game. But (it is) natural (that) you (would) think you are ahead but IPL has a tendency to show that oppositions can come back and how,” Pandya added. Punjab Kings’ stand-in captain Sam Curran said it was heartening to see youngsters like Ashutosh and Shashank rising to the occasion, despite losing some close matches in the recent past. “Another close one, I think this team likes a close one, but unfortunately another loss. Another incredible knock from the young guy (Ashutosh), but another close loss,” he said. “It’s very tough. We have lost a lot of wickets at the start, the way the younger guys have taken the team so close is heartening.” “They have incredible confidence, you see a guy like Ashutosh having the confidence to play the sweeps and the big hits against pacers, it’s so great to watch them in action,” Curran said. The Englishman said there were a lot of positives to take from such close defeats. “It’s disheartening to lose close games, but there are a lot of positives in this team. We still have the belief in us, we believe we can turn this around, the sun will come up tomorrow and we will hopefully get on a winning run,” Curran said. The player of the match Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled a brilliant spell of 3/21 said it was a much closer game than he anticipated. “(It was a) much closer game than what we thought. (I) want to make an impact early on. In this format, ball swings for two overs, and you want to make use of that,” he said. Bumrah said the T20 format is cruel for bowlers and is tilted in favour of batters. “This format is a little difficult for the bowlers because the batsmanship is going over, plus the time restrictions and the Impact Player rule. What you can do is prepare your best and back yourself,” he said. “Go out there and give your best. I try to relay messages from wherever I am on the field. You don’t want to give too many messages,” Bumrah added.