Hardik Pandya has been the topic of discussion ever since he took on the reins of Mumbai Indians. The dynamic all-rounder is facing tough times with all the unnecessary booing from the fans. To make things worse, Hardik Pandya needs to make his bat or ball do the talking. Pandya has had an ordinary IPL by his standards so far. He is struggling to score runs or take wickets. Mumbai Indians are now in the seventh position in the points table with just 3 wins in 8 games. His captaincy is also under the scanner.
Hardik Pandya was once touted as the possible captaincy candidate for the World Cup 2024. However, due to his decline in form, there have even been discussions of him being dropped from the World Cup squad. In this article let us discuss the 4 Reasons why Hardik Pandya should be dropped from India’s T20 World Cup Squad.
Lack of Bowling under his belt
Hardik Pandya got injured during the ODI World Cup 2023. After that, he was directly featured in this IPL. The concerning thing is that the all-rounder has just bowled 17 overs in 8 matches. That is just above 2 overs per match. He has taken just 4 wickets at an expensive economy of 10.94, averaging 46.50. The lack of bowling may work at MI because they have many options with the ball. But in the Indian setup, Pandya becomes a vital cog donning the role of a third or fourth seamer. His 2-3 overs with the ball enables the captain to pick an extra spinner in the side. He brings stability to the Indian side. Hardik Pandya’s form with the ball is very crucial for his selection.
Hardik Pandya is a rare commodity in Indian Cricket. He offers skill sets that most players don’t have. He is one of the very few fast-bowling all-rounders in India. But with a lack of bowling, he becomes half the original player. A recent report suggested that the BCCI will only select Hardik Pandya if he is bowling consistently in the IPL. If that’s true, Pandya must start delivering with the ball, or he might face the axe.
Not a Finisher Anymore
Hardik Pandya has struggled to make impactful performances with the bat, especially at the death. The MI captain has scored 151 runs in 8 matches at a poor average of 21.57. His strike rate is 142.45 which is poor for a batter who bats in the death overs. In the last 5 overs of the 2024 IPL, Hardik Pandya has scored 40 runs in 24 balls striking at 166.70 and getting dismissed 5 times. He is struggling to clear the fence. Pandya has hit 7 sixes and 12 boundaries in IPL 2024. He has a very high boundaries-per-ball ratio. Pandya is hitting boundaries per 5.33 balls faced which is unacceptable for a finisher.
Pandya has failed to close out 2 games with the bat this season. He failed to win the match for MI against his former side, Gujarat Titans, when 27 runs were needed off the last 2 overs. Even against Chennai Super Kings, the renowned finisher failed to deliver. He was dismissed for 2 runs when his team desperately needed him to close the match at the death. The ‘old’ Hardik Pandya would have easily taken his side to victory on both occasions.
After MS Dhoni’s retirement, Hardik Pandya was the only designated finisher of the Indian side. But with the resurgence of Rinku Singh and Ravindra Jadeja as the finishers, the management can look beyond Hardik Pandya if his poor form continues.
Declining returns against spin
Hardik Pandya announced his arrival in the IPL due to his ability to strike the ball hard. In his prime, Pandya used to bash spinners never letting them settle. Pandya was once feared by the spinners. Pandya has always kept the spinners at bay, be it his famous onslaught against Imad Wasim in the 2017 Champions Trophy or a hat trick of sixes against Adam Zampa and Todd Astle. But since 2020, he has struggled badly against the spinners. In the last 5 years, Hardik has a strike rate of 126.48 against the spinners.
With Rinku Singh and Ravindra Jadeja playing as the finishers, Hardik Pandya will mostly bat at the number 5-6 position. He will have to bat in the middle overs where he will face the spinners frequently. India now has many options for playing in that position. Hence, Hardik Pandya needs to up his spin-hitting game.
Rise of Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube has been a standout performer for the Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL season. The left-handed batter has carried forward his impressive form from the previous season, amassing 245 runs in seven innings at a remarkable average of 49 and a strike rate of 157.05. His ability to score quickly and effectively has made him a key player for the Super Kings. Dube’s performances have bolstered the Super Kings’ batting lineup and established him as one of the top performers in the IPL.
The southpaw has significantly improved his technique against the fast bowlers. The left-handed batsman, once known for his ability to hit spinners well, has dramatically improved his skills against fast bowlers. His reliable performances have made him a strong candidate for the T20 World Cup.
The only concern is that Shivam Dube has not yet bowled in this IPL. But in the international series before the IPL, he rolled his arm over and took 2 wickets in the 7 overs he bowled. Dube is a clever bowler who uses cutters and uses pitch dimensions well. If he can convince the selectors about his bowling, Dube will undoubtedly be preferred over Hardik Pandya with his current form.