Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan lavished praise on India all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Hardik is the highest wicket-taker for India in the marquee event with seven scalps in his three outings of the tournament.
Pandya got 3/27 against Ireland, 2/24 against Pakistan and 2/14 against the USA. Considering Hardik's current form, Irfran reckoned that he will play a pivotal role in the West Indies with his cutters and bouncers.
“I think the kind of length he bowls, it’s perfect for dry conditions. Because he pitches the ball slightly on a shorter side but the line has to be in the stumps. If he does that, especially in pitches like West Indies where he can use those cutters and bowl those bouncers and hard lengths. It will be difficult to get away. That’s why him being in form as a bowler is very very important,” said Pathan on Star Sports.
India have won all of their three matches so far and the Rohit Sharma-led side have qualified for the Super 8 of the marquee event where they will face Afghanistan in their upcoming match on June 20.
Pathan also said that Hardik needs to work on his batting as well because his batting will be crucial for India in the upcoming knockout games. He also suggested team management to add Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.
“Yes batting needs to come to the fore because there will be a time in the knockout games where his batting will be required. By that time, hopefully, he will get some runs which he’s not got so far. But him being in the form as a bowler is so crucial because by the time we go to West Indies, you might wanna get in Kuldeep and when you’re getting Kuldeep one of the fast bowler goes out. Three fast bowlers firing all cylinders will be really good for the Indian team,” he added.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
