Sanjay Manjrekar Advises India to Rethink Hardik Pandya's Role in T20 World Cup 2024

With the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced his concerns over Hardik Pandya's role in the Indian team. Manjrekar has cautioned the team against relying on Pandya as their fifth bowler, citing fitness issues and recent form as key concerns.

Manjrekar's advice comes at a vital time as India prepares for the tournament in the USA and Caribbean islands. He suggests that India should consider a spin-heavy playing eleven, with Pandya serving as a sixth bowling option rather than a primary bowler. This recommendation is based on Pandya's recent performance and ongoing fitness challenges.

Hardik Pandya has an impressive record in T20 Internationals, having played 92 matches, scored 1348 runs, and taken 73 wickets. However, his recent form has been less than stellar. In the IPL 2024, Pandya managed to score only 216 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18 and took 11 wickets, primarily in the latter stages of the tournament.

Manjrekar emphasized the need for India to have a reliable fifth bowler and not to depend on Pandya for this role. *"Hardik Pandya can't be your fifth bowler. I think India must have Hardik Pandya serving in the sixth bowler role because of the amount of bowling he's done and with all the fitness issues,"* Manjrekar stated.

The former cricketer also suggested that India should focus on their spin attack because of the lack of depth in their seam bowling. *"I'd rather go a little heavy on spin because when you look at the seam quality of India, there's not much depth,"* he added.

Contrary to Manjrekar's opinion, former Indian player Sunil Gavaskar has suggested a different approach. Gavaskar believes that a balanced bowling attack is crucial, advocating for a combination of three spinners and two pacers, with Pandya serving as backup fast bowler. *A balanced bowling attack is the most important in West Indies, so India can go with three spinners and two fast bowlers, with Hardik Pandya being the backup fast bowler. I think this will maintain the balance of the team,"* Gavaskar opined.

India's upcoming matches will provide a platform to test these strategies. The team will play a warm-up match against Bangladesh in New York on Sunday before their T20 World Cup opener against Ireland on June 5.

As India gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, the team's management faces critical decisions regarding their bowling lineup. Manjrekar's advice to rely heavily on spin and use Pandya as a sixth bowling option could influence their strategy, aiming to balance the team's strengths and address its weaknesses.

Key Takeaways

• Sanjay Manjrekar advises India not to rely on Hardik Pandya as their fifth bowler due to fitness issues and recent form.
• Manjrekar suggests a spin-heavy playing eleven with Pandya as the sixth bowling option.
• Pandya's recent form has been poor, scoring 216 runs in 14 IPL matches at an average of 18.
• Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar disagrees, advocating for a balanced attack with three spinners and two pacers.
• India's upcoming matches will test these strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.