I Wasn't Dropped, I Made Myself Unavailable After T20 World Cup 2021: Hardik Pandya
Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Hardik Pandya has spoken out about his long hiatus from the Indian squad after winning the IPL 2022 title. The 28-year- old’s last appearance for the Men in Blue was in the T20 World Cup in 2021.
Hardik hasn’t bowled much in recent years and was left out of India’s T20I team for the series against New Zealand, the West Indies, and Sri Lanka. Many people believed he was dropped from the squad because he couldn’t bowl.
You Only Get Dropped When You Are Available: Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya, however, said in a video shared by GT on Twitter that he had taken a hiatus to improve his condition so that he could bowl full power again. He stated:
“Lots of people don’t know that I took off, it was my decision. A lot of misconceptions are that I was dropped. You only get dropped when you’re available. Thankful to the BCCI that they allowed me to take such long breaks and didn’t trouble or force me to come back, so that’s commendable from their side. The old Hardik will be back.”
All eyes were on Hardik Pandya as the IPL season began, wondering if he would be able to contribute with both the bat and the ball. The 28-year-old, on the other hand, set an example in both departments, amassing 487 runs and taking eight wickets.
With some key games coming up in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, the all-rounder spoke up on how he hopes to have the same influence for Team India. He stated:
I told someone as well that now that the fans are back, it is the right time for me to make a comeback. There are a lot of matches that I am going to play (for India) and the hard work that I did before coming into the IPL will come to use. Making sure that whatever I did for my franchise, I do for my country as well.”
“The old Hardik will be back!” ?
? #PapaPandya will be back in Blue, and we are excited! ? #INDvSA #TeamIndia @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/6KaQBb7860
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) June 3, 2022
When India takes on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on June 9, Hardik will once again be the centre of attention.
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