India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been one of the most talented all-rounders in the Indian squad. He has given numerous amazing performances both with the bat and the ball, and he has become a crucial member of the Indian squad. It won’t be wrong to say that currently, India has no replacement for a talent like Hardik Pandya in the team.
However, he has become a hot topic of discussion among the cricket fraternity. His fitness has become a matter of concern for the Indian side. His inability to bowl has raised several question marks on his presence on the Indian side.
A lot was expected from Hardik during the T20 World Cup 2021 however the star player left everyone disappointed. He went wicketless in 4 overs he bowled during the ICC event. Pandya was backed throughout the mega-tournament and was given 4 overs, but he failed to live up to the expectations of the fans. Eventually, he ended up at the receiving end of the criticism.
It has been a long time since he has been playing like a specialist batsman. He also made his return to the longest format of the game but only as a specialist batsman. His below-par run in the T20 World Cup resulted in him getting dropped from the Indian squad for the just-concluded 3-match T20I series against New Zealand and seems like Hardik might miss a few more international matches.
Well, according to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, Hardik is currently working on his fitness and he has asked the selectors to not consider for selection for a while. The reports also stated that Pandya is now focusing to make a return as a full-time bowler.
It is still unknown whether Pandya will play in the upcoming South Arica tour or not. Even if he is available for the tour, Venkatesh Iyer is also looking set for the tour.
