While for many India captain and opener Rohit Sharma will be the most important player for India in the upcoming World Cup 2023. For many others, it will be former skipper and superstar batsman Virat Kohli. For others, it would be spearhead fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, or mystery wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav; even the young and in-form Shubman Gill could be India’s main man in the 10-team tournament.
However, for former India batsman Wasim Jaffer, it will be none other than all-rounder Hardik Pandya who is going to be the most vital player for Team India in the upcoming home World Cup that will start on October 5th, and conclude on November 19 in Ahmedabad.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya the most vital player in the team: Wasim Jaffer
Wasim Jaffer believes that Hardik Pandya, who has done exceptionally well as the Gujarat Titans captain in the past two seasons and has risen in stature and performances as an all-rounder for Team India, would be the main link, and provide the most significant chances for the hosts to win the ODI World Cup at 12 years.
While it was Yuvraj Singh’s majestic all-round displays in the 2011 World Cup that helped India end their 28-year drought for an ODI World Cup, in 2023, Wasim Jaffer reckons, Hardik Pandya could play the role of the indispensable all-rounder in the XI that could end India’s decade-long drought for an ICC title.
Amid some criticism for his batting and captain in the West Indies last month, Hardik Pandya rocked back with a terrific knock against Pakistan which was hailed by everyone. Against Pakistan in Pallekele, Pandya scored 87 runs in 90 balls with the help of 7 fours and a six after India were in trouble at 66/4. Hardik and Kishan’s partnership helped India post a good total of 266 runs, though the game then got washed out.
India’s 15-man squad for ICC World Cup 2023:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.
