IND vs IRE: 'Members of team would have...' - Ian Bishop's huge claim on Hardik Pandya ahead of India's T20 WC opener

Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop said that Team India vice-captain Hardik Pandya would shine in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). Ian Bishop said that Hardik Pandya has moved on from his challenging phase in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Hardik Pandya faced a difficult period in the IPL 2024 season after his return to the Mumbai Indians. The star all-rounder was booed by crowds across venues, including the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The MI team struggled throughout the season and finished at the bottom of the 10-team points table.

The 30-year-old cricketer scored just 216 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 143.05. The right-arm pacer took 11 wickets with an average of 35.18 and an expensive economy rate of 10.75. The criticism from the crowd might have affected his performance as both a player and a leader.

Hardik Pandya Is A Pretty Strong Personality - Ian Bishop

Ian Bishop feels that Hardik Pandya didn't deserve the harsh criticism he received from Mumbai Indians fans. Bishop highlighted that Pandya's mental strength will help him focus on delivering crucial performances for the Indian team in the T20 World Cup.

"I think he is a pretty strong personality. I would like to think that the other members of the team would have rallied around him. What he endured during the IPL, some of it was not of his own making. I just wish fans could have approached it maybe a little differently, but they have the right to voice their views however they see fit," Ian Bishop said.

"I am sure he has moved on now to what is the biggest stage in T20 international cricket and that whole picture is ahead of us. But he is a strong guy," he added.

Hardik Pandya Shines In Warmup Match Against Bangladesh

Team India secured a comfortable 60-run victory in the warm-up match against Bangladesh at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Saturday, June 1. Hardik Pandya made a significant impact with both bat and ball in India's lone warm-up match leading up to the T20 World Cup 2024.

Hardik Pandya came to bat when India were 130 for 3 in the 15th over. Pandya started with a cautious approach and accelerated by hitting a boundary off Shakib Al Hasan in the 16th over. He hit three consecutive sixes off Tanvir Islam in the following over. He scored 43 off 23 balls, including two fours and four sixes.

The vice-captain took one wicket in the match but conceded 30 runs in three overs. He is expected to play a vital role in India's World Cup campaign. The Men in Blue will kick off their campaign against Ireland in New York on Wednesday, June 5, followed by a match against Pakistan at the same venue on Sunday, June 9.

Also read: Yasir Arafat labels Pakistan an "Amateur Team" ahead of their T20 World Cup opener