Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma was left utterly displeased by the recent statements from Hardik Pandya regarding his role in the Indian team at the T20 World Cup 2021.
Hardik was under the scanner regarding his fitness as he didn’t bowl in the IPL 2021 going into the T20 World Cup. In the tournament, he didn’t bowl a single ball against Pakistan and delivered two overs each against New Zealand and Afghanistan, conceding 40 runs combined.
He hasn’t been picked in the Indian team since the World Cup as he continues to gain the highest fitness.
Speaking with journalist Boria Majumdar on his show YouTube show ‘Backstage With Boria’, Hardik had revealed that he “wasn’t supposed to bowl” and “was selected in the team as a batter” purely.
This statement from the star all-rounder hasn’t gone down well with fans and experts, including Rajkumar Sharma, a renowned coach.
Rajkumar Sharma slammed Hardik’s comment, condemning that it wasn’t a “mature” one, and the cricketer should be thankful that he was even picked in the eleven despite his fitness issues and his underwhelming form in the IPL leading up to the World Cup.
“The selectors and team management favoured Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup 2021. Him coming out and saying what he said is not a mature statement. You should be thankful that they picked you were picked by the team management for the T20 World Cup, despite fitness concerns,” Rajkumar Sharma said on YouTube channel Khelneeti.
Hardik isn’t selected in the squads for the upcoming home ODI and T20I series against West Indies and is unlikely to be picked for the Sri Lanka T20I that follows the West Indies series.
He would straight be seen in action during the IPL 2022, where he’ll be leading the Ahmedabad franchise. Hardik was picked for 15 crores by Ahmedabad and has been named the captain. Rashid Khan(15Cr) and Shubman Gill(7Cr) are the other two picks of the new franchise.
