June 7, 2025
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Hardik Pandya

Pakistan targets right T20 combination against understrength New Zealand | Cricket

India unperturbed by Pandya’s form, Kohli’s strike rate ahead of World Cup

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May 2 – India are not losing sleep over all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s form or batting stalwart Virat Kohli’s strike rate heading into the T20 World Cup in June, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said on Thursday. India unperturbed by Pandya’s form, Kohli’s strike rate ahead of World Cup Pandya, when fit and in form, is India’s preferred seam-bowling all-rounder and has also been retained as vice-captain of the Rohit Sharma-led squad for the T20 showpiece co-hosted by the United States and West Indies. Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Returning from an ankle injury suffered during the 50-overs World Cup last year, the 30-year-old has struggled with bat and ball in the Indian Premier League . Under his captaincy, five-times champions Mumbai Indians have slipped to ninth place in the 10-team league and will need a miracle to make the playoff. “The good part is he’s got through all the games for MI and we’ve got another month and a little bit till we play our first game,” Agarkar told reporters in Mumbai. “As long as he stays fit, we know what he brings, how much balance he gives the team. “I don’t think there’s a replacement for the things that he can do as a cricketer, especially with the ball. He really gives Rohit the option to play different combinations. “So his fitness for us is critical and so far, fortunately, he’s gone okay in this IPL.” CONSISTENT KOHLI Unlike Pandya, Kohli has been consistent in the IPL with 500 runs so far this season and only Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored more runs than the former India captain. Many find Kohli’s strike rate of 147.59 not impressive enough but Agarkar and Rohit laughed off that criticism. “He’s been in great form in the IPL, no concerns there at all,” Agarkar said stressing the need for experience in a World Cup campaign. “You’ve got to prepare knowing there’s a gap . That’s where experience does matter a lot.” “There’s no point over-thinking it.” While the IPL provides a glimpse into the form and fitness of the players, Agarkar said performance in the league alone did not influence team selection. With the ball likely to turn in West Indies, India have picked two specialist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal along with spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. “I wanted four spinners, three seamers and Hardik as the fourth one,” Rohit said. “Based on the combination of our opponents, there’s a good chance that Kuldeep and Chahal will play together…” Inaugural champions India will begin their campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5 and also face arch-rivals Pakistan, the United States and Canada in Group A. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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'I expect him to play like a...': Former India cricketer's advice for Hardik Pandya | Cricket News

‘I expect him to play like a…’: Former India cricketer’s advice for Hardik Pandya | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has urged Hardik Pandya to embrace the role of a “true leader” and rise to the occasion. Despite facing criticism, Hardik was appointed as the vice-captain of India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup.Ojha expressed confidence in Hardik’s leadership capabilities and his prowess as an all-rounder. He stressed the significance of mental preparedness, highlighting the need for Hardik to be ready to take charge when circumstances dictate.Ojha’s endorsement underscores the belief in Hardik’s potential to excel not just as a player but also as a leader on the cricketing stage.“I expect him to play like a leader because he is next in command. If something happens to Rohit, we don’t want that, if anything happens, he (Hardik) will be leading the side, so he has to be prepared, he has to take that responsibility when he is batting,” Ojha said on Jio Cinema.Hardik’s journey since the October 2023 ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. After recovering from an ankle ailment, he assumed the captaincy of Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2024 season, replacing Rohit Sharma. However, this decision sparked significant social media criticism, which evidently impacted the all-rounder’s confidence.Despite the adversity, Hardik has showcased glimpses of his batting prowess in the 2024 IPL season, scoring 197 runs at an impressive average of 150.38 in 10 games. However, his bowling performance has been less stellar, with only six wickets claimed at an economy rate of 11.0.Navigating through the highs and lows, Pandya’s resilience will be key as he seeks to regain his form and silence the critics, both on and off the field.Ojha, acknowledging Hardik’s significance in the Indian setup, lauded his ability to provide balance to the team. Despite the IPL ordeal, Hardik’s place in the T20 World Cup squad was never in doubt. His versatility as an all-rounder offered India the flexibility they needed, a fact not lost on selectors or fans.“For me, he is someone who will create that balance for the side. Every time we talk about Indian team selection, Hardik’s name always comes in. He creates that balance, he will give you that cushion. That you can have an extra batter or a bowler, wherever he is needed. That’s what we want him to do, to be mentally ready for the World Cup and just forget what is happening in the IPL and focus on the World Cup, that is more important,” Ojha added.(With IANS inputs)

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Was vice-captaincy point of discussion? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar spills beans on Hardik Pandya's form ahead of T20 WC – India TV

Was vice-captaincy point of discussion? Chief selector Ajit Agarkar spills beans on Hardik Pandya’s form ahead of T20 WC – India TV

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Image Source : BCCI/IPL BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar spoke at length about Hardik Pandya and his form in IPL 2024 for the Mumbai Indians Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma addressed the press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, May 2 following the T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement. The questions ranged from being about Rinku Singh’s absence to the reason for picking four spinners in the squad of 15 and about Hardik Pandya’s form, who has been chosen as vice-captain. Agarkar was asked if there was any discussion regarding the vioce-captaincy and the former India pacer denied it while elaborating on Hardik’s form. “Not really, nothing discussed as regards to vice-captaincy. Form, I mean you want all guys to be in good form. I think he [Hardik] has come after a long-ish layoff but the good part is he has gotten through all the games so far for MI. We have got a month and a little bit [more] till we play our first game. We know he is doing that and the hope is that he keeps building on that form. “As long as he is fit, we know what he brings, the balance he gives to the team. I don’t think there’s a replacement for things he can do as a cricketer at the moment, especially when it comes to the way he bowls really gives balance. I think it’ll give Rohit options to play different combinations. So it’s his fitness for us is critical and so far, fortunately, he’s gone okay in this IPL,” Agarkar added while Rohit beside him nodded. Hardik hasn’t had the best of outings in IPL 2024 leading the Mumbai Indians as he has scored 197 runs in 10 matches averaging 22, at a strike rate of 150. With the ball too, Hardik has had a mixed-0bag taking just six wickets in the competition at an economy of 11. As Agarkar said, Hardik is invaluable to the balance of the side and both the captain and the team management will hope to see the Mumbai Indians skipper slowly building up to his best.

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Preview, streaming details and predicted XIs – India TV

Preview, streaming details and predicted XIs – India TV

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Image Source : BCCI/IPL Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya during the MI vs CSK IPL 2024 game in Mumbai on April 14, 2024 MI vs KKR Preview: Mumbai Indians target two survival points when they host impressive Kolkata Knight Riders in the 51st match of the Indian Premier League on Friday. Hardik Pandya’s side needs to produce their best performance as they face early elimination from the playoff race going into the upcoming fixture at Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai suffered their seventh defeat of the season when they failed to defend 144 against Lucknow Super Giants in their last game. The five-time champions have struggled for consistency under Hardik’s leadership and currently find themselves in the ninth position in the points table. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders registered an impressive win against Delhi Capitals in their last game to further cement their standings in the points table. Kolkata have recorded six wins in nine matches this season but hold a concerning head-to-head record against Mumbai Indians. Match Details: Match: IPL 2024, 51st T20 match Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Date & Time: Friday, May 3 at 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM) Broadcast and Live Streaming: Star Sports, JioCinema Website and App MI vs KKR Head-to-Head Record: Mumbai Indians dominate a head-to-head record against Kolkata Knight Riders with notably 23 wins in 32 matches so far. Mumbai managed to beat Kolkata when both teams last played against each other.   Kolkata have won three of their last five games against Mumbai but have registered just two wins in their 11 encounters at Wankhede Stadium.  Matches MI Won KKR Won No Result 32 23 9 0 At Wankhede Stadium MI Won KKR Won No Result 11 9 2 0 MI vs KKR Predicted Playing XIs: Geral Coetzee replaced Luke Wood in the playing XI for Mumbai Indians in the last game and is expected to keep his place in the upcoming game. Kolkata pacer Harshit Rana is suspended for the upcoming game and is expected to be replaced by spinner Suyansh Sharma in the starting eleven. Mumbai Indians predicted playing XI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah. Kolkata Knight Riders predicted playing XI: Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.

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

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

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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.

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Hardik Pandya fined ₹24 lakh after team’s second slow over-rate offence

Hardik Pandya fined ₹24 lakh after team’s second slow over-rate offence

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Mumbai Indians’ Hardik Pandya bowls during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, in Lucknow on April 30, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has been fined ₹24 lakh after his team’s second slow over-rate offence in the Indian Premier League during their match against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow. All the other players, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either ₹6 lakh or 25% of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser. MI lost the match by four wickets at the Ekana Stadium on April 30. “Mr. Hardik Pandya, Captain, Mumbai Indians has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match 48 of the TATA Indian Premier League [IPL] 2024 against Lucknow Super Giants on April 30, 2024,” the IPL said in a statement. “As it was his team’s second offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Pandya was fined INR 24 Lac,” it said adding, “The rest of the members of the Playing XI, including the Impact Player, were each individually fined either INR 6 Lac or 25% of their respective match fees, whichever is lesser.”

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Hardik Pandya blames top-order collapse for defeat against Lucknow Super Giants | Cricket News

Hardik Pandya blames top-order collapse for defeat against Lucknow Super Giants | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: As Mumbai Indians succumbed to their seventh defeat of the season, this time against Lucknow Super Giants, skipper Hardik Pandya said loss of early wickets led to their down fall at the Ekana. After being put in to bat by KL Rahul, MI found themselves tottering at 28 for four after powerplay with pacers Mohsin Khan, Marcus Stoinis and Naveen-ul-Haq doing the early damage. Rohit Sharma (4), Suryakumar Yadav (10), Tilak Varma (7) and Hardik (0) all fell cheaply as Ishan Kishan (32) and Nehal Wadhera (46) and Tim David (35) somehow took them to a par total.Hardik said loss of wickets in a cluster in powerplay hurt them badly and they were never able to fully recover from that. “Definitely, losing early wickets in the powerplay is tough to recover from. Where we needed the most, we could not do well,” Hardik said in the post-match presentation. On being asked if high scores this season have put more pressure on the batters early, Hardik said, “Not really, you still have to see the ball and hit. The wicket was good. The ball was there to be hit and we just missed, that sort of season for us so far. I have always believed that whenever you take to the field, sometimes you will be down, sometimes you will be up, and you have to fight. It looks difficult but there are a lot of things you can learn from this game.”Amid MI’s freefall against LSG, Wadhera stood out, notching up a solid 41-ball 46 and Hardik was quick in praising the responsible effort from the youngster. “He has been fantastic, the way he batted against Rajasthan and tonight. He did fantastic last year as well. It was because of the team combination that he could not play early. Looking at his talent, he will play for a lot of years for Mumbai and for India eventually,” Hardik added. With 7 losses in 10 matches, MI are at the ninth spot. A victory on the other hand, lifted Lucknow to third spot.

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

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

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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.

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Mumbai Indians return to winning ways with thrilling victory over Punjab Kings – India TV

Mumbai Indians return to winning ways with thrilling victory over Punjab Kings – India TV

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Image Source : BCCI/IPL Mumbai Indians players against Punjab Kings in the IPL game on April 18, 2024 Mumbai Indians recorded a thrilling nine-run victory over Punjab Kings to register their only third win of the IPL 2024 season on Thursday, April 18. Punjab Kings made a late comeback while chasing a 193-run target but Mumbai avoided a late scare to return to the winning ways at Mullanpur’s Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Coming into this game after a heavy loss against Chennai Super Kings, Hardik Pandy-led produced an impressive all-round performance. Suryakumar Yadav smashed 78 runs off 53 balls to help Mumbai post 192 total while batting first and pacers Gerald Coetzee and Jasprit Bumrah took early wickets to stumble Punjab to 14 for 4. But Punjab made a sensational comeback through Shashank Singh’s 41 off 25 balls and Ashutosh Sharma’s valiant 61 off just 28 balls. Mumbai managed to avoid a late scare by defending 12 runs in the last over and jumped to seventh place in the points table.  Meanwhile, Suryakumar’s second fifty of the season put Mumbai on track for a big total but the likes of Hardik Pandya and Tim David failed to finish. Tilak Varma smashed a crucial 34* off 18 balls and Rohit contributed with 36 runs. Harshal Patel took three wickets for 31 and stand-in skipper Sam Curran bagged two for Punjab Kings. Chasing a big total, Punjab suffered a disastrous start to their innings with top-four batters returning to the pavilion inside 2.1 overs. Both Coetzee and Bumrah took two wickets each in their powerplay spells to put Mumbai in favourites position to record a huge win. But Ashutosh Sharma and Harpreet Brar pulled off 57 runs for the eighth wicket to take the game to the wire. Ashutosh recorded his first fifty of the season by smashing 61 off 28 balls with the help of two fours and seven sixes.  Punjab Kings Playing XI: Rilee Rossouw, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh (substituted by Harpreet Bhatia). Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (substituted by Akash Madhwal), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal, Jasprit Bumrah.

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Hardik Pandya: Hardik Pandya's inclusion in T20 World Cup squad depends on IPL bowling performance: Report | Cricket News

Hardik Pandya: Hardik Pandya’s inclusion in T20 World Cup squad depends on IPL bowling performance: Report | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma recently held a meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Mumbai during the ongoing IPL 2024 season, according to a media report. The primary agenda of the meeting, which took place at the BCCI headquarters, was to discuss the squad composition for the upcoming T20 World Cup.According to a report by The Indian Express, a crucial decision was made regarding Hardik Pandya‘s inclusion in the team.The trio decided that bowling regularly during the IPL 2024 will be key to Pandya’s chances of making the cut in the squad.IPL 2024: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPThe meeting focused significantly on the selection of fast bowling all-rounders for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean islands in June. However, the selectors face a challenge due to the limited quality options available. Despite this, they are closely monitoring Shivam Dube, who has been impressive with the bat but has only been utilized as an Impact Player by his franchise, Chennai Super Kings, due to their abundant bowling resources. Hardik Pandya, who is also leading the Mumbai Indians this season, has been struggling with his bowling form. In six games, he has bowled 11 overs, taking three wickets but conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 12 per over. The Indian team management hopes that Pandya can find his rhythm, as his seam bowling adds balance to the playing XI, and his powerful hitting provides depth to the batting lineup.Reports suggest that the Indian selection committee is set to meet later this month to finalize the squad for the T20 World Cup, with the performance of the hopefuls in the ongoing IPL expected to play a significant role in their decision-making process.

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