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When Team India plays Bangladesh in a three-match Twenty20 International series on Sunday, the team will play in the game's shortest format once again. Earlier this week, India easily defeated the visitors 2-0 in the series, winning praise from both fans and pundits for their performance in Kanpur. Eyes will be on some of the top Indian players who did not play for the Test team as attention turns to the T20Is. Over the previous few months, captain Suryakumar Yadav has focused mostly on T20I cricket; however, in this series, another massive player, Hardik Pandya, will also be in the spotlight.
Recently, Hardik made a lot of headlines after being seen practising with a red ball, which fuelled speculations about his probable return to the longest format of the game. Parthiv Patel, a former wicketkeeper-battler for India, asserted that the all-round player was compelled to use the red ball because the white ball was not available.
Hardik practices ahead of the T20Is against Bangladesh
Before the first T20I match in Gwalior, Hardik participated in the training session with the Indian team, when he was observed by bowling coach Morne Morkel. According to an Indian Express report, Morkel was reportedly "unhappy" with Hardik's bowling, which was mostly closer to the stumps, and he would frequently speak with the all-rounder after each ball.
Morkel seemed to have a conversation regarding Hardik's release point, and the all-rounder took the feedback sportingly, following which Morkel proceeded to the other bowlers in the net session.
Similar to Suryakumar, Hardik's primary role is in the T20I setup. The all-rounder failed to make it into the squad for the three-match fifty-over series against Sri Lanka in August of this year, despite being a regular for the team in ODIs. There were rumors that Hardik was invited to compete in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in order to demonstrate his suitability for the ODI format. The all-rounder's last ODI was during the World Cup at home last year; he was injured fielding off his own bowling in the match against Bangladesh during the group stage, which ultimately caused him to miss the competition.
