Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif was recently voted the Men in Blue’s most effective match-winner in ICC tournaments. Mohammad Kaif chose the 30-year-old all-rounder ahead of prominent players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the squad for the World Cup. Rohit Sharma will lead the team in the upcoming event. There were doubts about Hardik Pandya’s inclusion in the squad. Voters showed confidence in his abilities and also named him vice-captain.
Even Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav – Mohammad Kaif excel
In the Star Sports press room, Mohammad Kaif is confident that Hardik Pandya can shine in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Kaif highlighted Pandya’s impressive track record in ICC events, especially in crucial encounters against Pakistan.
“I consider Hardik Pandya to be the most effective match-winner in ICC events, surpassing even Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Remember the India vs Pakistan games. In Melbourne, Virat Kohli scored 82 runs but it was Hardik Pandya who forged a crucial 40-run partnership and took three wickets. In the Asia Cup, Hardik Pandya showed his finishing prowess during the match against Pakistan by delivering against Nawaz in the final and saving the team after Dinesh Karthik and Jadeja were dismissed. Kaif said.
Hardik Pandya failed to live up to expectations in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The right-handed batsman has scored 197 runs in 10 matches at an average of 21.89 and a strike rate of 150.38. The right-arm pacer has taken six wickets at an expensive economy rate of 11.
It’s a very balanced team – Mohammad Kaif
The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup has been criticized, particularly for not selecting young batsman Rinku Singh. Voters opted for three pacers including Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. The squad included four spinners for the tournament.
Mohammad Kaif believes India’s T20 World Cup squad is balanced. However, the former India batsman expressed concerns about the team’s mindset in knockout matches. Kaif explained that the team had to win against strong opponents to win the trophy.
“Yes, 100%. It’s a very balanced team. However, it is important to understand that this is not the IPL. There are 14 league games in the IPL. If you lose games you can always come back and win the cup.” “But the World Cup format is different; Weaker teams compete against strong opponents like Pakistan or England in the early stages to win the cup.” Kaif explained.
The Indian team suffered a heartbreaking defeat against England by ten wickets in the semi-final of the last edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia. The Rohit Sharma-led team will be hoping to break the 11-year ICC trophy drought at the upcoming tournament in the West Indies and USA in June.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Hardik Pandya’s India selection doesn’t suit Irfan Pathan, criticizes the selection