Rohit Sharma walked out for coin toss in the warm-up game against Australia and made a big statement to clear the air over Hardik Pandya’s role in the team. There have been plenty questions in the side if he he can’t contribute with the ball. Rohit made it clear that the all-rounder “should be ready” before India begin their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign.
“Hardik is coming along pretty well, but it'll be a while before he will start to bowl. He hasn't started bowling, but he should be ready by the start of the tournament. We have quality in the main bowlers, but you need an option for a 6th bowler,” the stand-in skipper said.
The Baroda all-rounder has not bowled a single over since July 2021. He did not feature in the first few matches of MI in the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Hardik did not bowl a single over in the second leg of IPL as well. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene too said during the tournament that he will walk into the side as a finisher.
Changes in warm-up game
Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami were been rested for the second warm-up bringing in Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit. However, Kohli rolled his arm in the warm-up game. The Mumbai Indians skipper also said that “want to make sure that we get the 6th bowling option, some options in the batting order as well”.
India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24. Earlier India beat England by seven wickets in their first warm-up game against England on October 24 while chasing 189.
