Former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan has raised concerns about the preferential treatment given to Hardik Pandya in terms of T20 World Cup 2024 squad selection. The selectors on April 30 announced India’s squad for the marquee event and Hardik was appointed vice-captain of the Rohit Sharma-led India team. After his selection in the T20 World Cup, Irfan said that Hardik’s appointment is not good news for the team environment.
Hardik Pandya being the vice-captain is concerned: Irfan Pathan
While speaking on Star Sports, Irfan said that Jasprit Bumrah could have been an option for the role of India’s vice-captain at the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin in June in the USA and West Indies.
"As far as Hardik Pandya being the vice-captain is concerned, I still understand, there is still some continuity. Right now, the performances are not there. But the selectors are thinking about continuity. But, I think Bumrah would not have been a bad choice for vice-captaincy," Irfan told Star Sports.
'Hardik Pandya's performance has been a question mark'
World Cup-winning former Indian cricketer said that the 30-year-old's performance has been a ‘question mark’. He pointed out that Pandya was selected in the squad despite his absence from domestic and international cricket due to an ankle injury that he picked during the ODI World Cup last year. He wants everyone to be treated fairly.
"For me, the performance of Hardik Pandya has been a question mark. The consistency towards Indian cricket -- playing regularly has been a question mark as well. He should be playing regular cricket, if he wants to serve Indian cricket for long. He needs to play domestic cricket. When a lot of other guys get injured, they come back with proper planning of playing matches. But here is one guy, who comes back after an injury without those sorts of requirements, without playing domestic cricket. That should not be the case. Because all the other guys in the team, they see this. When they see one guy is getting more priority, you know it doesn't work in a team environment. It's not tennis, it's a team game. Everyone needs to be treated equally," Irfan further said.
Pandya’s performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has been under scrutiny. He has scored just 197 runs in 10 matches at an average of 21 and claimed only six wickets so far.
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