Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has praised Hardik Pandya for his bowling performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He believes that the vice-captain being in full flow with the ball will allow India to play Kuldeep Yadav in the XI going forward. the Super 8 stage.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been in sensational form with the ball in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He has contributed excellently as a fourth seamer in the ongoing tournament and his form has been one of the main reasons behind the dominance of the team in the tournament.
Hardik Pandya has contributed with the ball in all his team’s matches. He is India’s leading wicket-taker in the ongoing tournament, having picked seven wickets in three matches at an average of 9.28 and economy of 5.41, helping the team win three games.
Hardik Pandya started the tournament quite well with the ball. The all-rounder took 3/27 against Ireland and then followed it up with figures of 2/24 against Pakistan and then 2/14 against the United States. His presence with the ball has been extremely vital for India.
Irfan Pathan praised Hardik Pandya as a bowler in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He noted that the all-rounder’s ability to bowl hard length deliveries will prove vital on the West Indies pitches as the pacer can also use cutters. Speaking to Star Sports, he explained:
“I think the kind of length he bowls is perfect for dry conditions. Because he bowls the ball slightly on the shorter side, but the line has to be on the stumps. If he does that, especially on pitches like the West Indies, where he can “Use those cutters and hit those hard bounces and lengths. It will be difficult to escape. That’s why it’s very important for him to be fit as a pitcher.”
“You may want to enter Kuldeep” – Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan further spoke about Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the Indian XI. He said that though Hardik Pandya is yet to try the bat, his bowling will allow the management to bring in a wrist spin. He believes Arshdeep Singh along with Jasprit Bumrah and Pandya as the third pacer will be good for India. He added:
“Yes, batting has to come to the fore because there will be a time in the knockout games when his batting will be needed. By then, hopefully, he will get some runs which he hasn’t got so far. But being in the right shape as a player bowling is crucial because when we go to the West Indies, you might want to get Kuldeep in and when you get Kuldeep, one of the fast bowlers will come out. Three fast bowlers firing on all cylinders will be really good for him. Indian team.”
Kuldeep Yadav has not played a single match so far in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. But with the Super 8 leg scheduled to take place in the Caribbean, he is likely to find a spot on the team as pitching favors spin there.
