IND Vs PAK: Wasim Jaffer Chooses Hardik Pandya Over Others, Thinks He Will Be Most Vital Player In ODI World Cup 2023 For India

Former India player, Wasim Jaffer picked Hardik Pandya over other Indian star players who will play a crucial role in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 which will start from October 5th.

While speaking at the ESPNCricinfo show, Wasim Jaffer ignored India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, star India pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, and named the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain, Hardik Pandya as the most vital player in the squad.

Hardik Pandya was included in the 2019 ODI World Cup as well, but the allrounder failed to make a mark there. However, the player will surely be hoping to display a stupendous performance in the forthcoming prestigious tournament.

On Tuesday (September 5th), the chief Indian cricket selectors, Ajit Agarkar, and Rohit Sharma held a press conference where the names of the 15 players were announced who will be donning the India jersey in the ODI World Cup 2023.

During the press conference, Ajit Agarkar also reveled that Hardik Pandya will also be the vice captain of the Men in Blues and will be second in command after Rohit Sharma.

India’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (Vice-captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.

The squad is currently in Sri Lanka to take part in the Asia Cup 2023. In there last game, India thrashed Nepal and won the match by 10 wickets to confirm their spot in the Super Fours of the tournament.

In the upcoming match of the Men in Blues in the Continental Cup, India will take on Pakistan once against on Sunday (September 10th) at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Hardik Pandya’s 87-run knock against Pakistan led India in the third match of Asia Cup 2023

The last time India faced Pakistan in the Group A match of the tournament, the game was canceled without any result due to heavy rain.

However, in the first inning, India gave a target of 267 runs but the run-chasing inning couldn’t start as it started to drizzle. At first, the top order of the Indian batting lineup suffered in front of the Pakistani pacer, but Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan made a solid partnership to lead India.

Pandya scored 87 runs from 90 balls with a strike rate of 96.67. He hammered seven fours and one six in the match.

In the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023, the high voltage match between India and Pakistan will be played on October 14th at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.