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Indian cricket team’s vice captain Hardik Pandya has been training in London a week ahead of Rohit Sharma-led side’s T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up game in the USA and West Indies. He was practicing at Slough Warriors Cricket Club on May 23.
Pandya had a forgettable season as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain as they finished at the bottom of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 points table with just four wins to their name. MI played their last league stage game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 17.
In IPL 20224, he scored 216 runs at an average of 18. His strike rate was 143.05. With the ball, he took 11 wickets at an average of 35.18. His economy rate was poor at 10.75 runs per over.
Hardik missed the T20I series against Afghanistan as well. He was nursing an ankle injury which ruled him out of ODI World Cup 2023. His last T20I appearance was against West Indies where he was donning the captaincy hat. India won the T20I series 3-2.
Yuvraj backs Pandya
Owing to a poor IPL season as a captain, batter and a bowler, Pandya faced widespread criticism. Many even questioned his place in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. However, the Baroda all-rounder’s former teammate Yuvraj Singh lauded the selectors for picking him in the squad. Yuvraj also said that the all-rounder may pull off something special in the marquee event.
"Well, the good thing is that the selection has been made. (Selectors see) how players have performed at international cricket and then they look at IPL form. Just not the IPL form because if you look at the IPL form, Hardik’s not done well. Looking at his background for India, what he’s done for India, it is important that he’s in the squad. I think his bowling is going to be important, and his fitness is going to be important. And I think he might do something really special in this World Cup," Yuvraj told ICC.
When will players leave for the T20 World Cup?
While the majority of players are expected to leave for the US on May 25, the remaining players busy playing in IPL playoffs. They will join the side next week. Pandya is also expected to join the first batch of players. India have just one warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1. They will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5.
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