Well, the game of cricket has seen quite a few brothers doing wonders for their national team at international level. Waugh brothers, Flower brothers, Marsh brothers, Pathan brothers are the few of them to name. Meanwhile, after 7 years, Indian cricket might witness a brother pair Hardik Pandya-Krunal Pandya in playing XI after Yusuf Pathan-Irfan Pathan pair.
Yusuf Pathan-Irfan Pathan has last played together for India against South Africa, which was way back in 2012. It was a T20I game, in which, South Africa won by 11 runs in a rain-curtailed game. India scored 71/0 in 7 overs while chasing 219 in a T20I game but rain judged it in South Africa’s way. Gambhir scored 49 off 28 balls.
Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya plays together for Baroda and Mumbai Indians:
Since then, the duo never appeared for India in a single game. Now, after a fine time, Indian fans might witness the brother pair Hardik Pandya-Krunal Pandya in the first T20I game against New Zealand at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
The above-mentioned can only happen if the duo gets the nod from the team management for the first game. Going by the form, they both would get the opportunity, as they have excelled whenever they were given chances.
Hardik Pandya has shown his worth in the final ODI by playing a great 45-run cameo and also chipped in with wickets with the ball. Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya registered his career-best figures in a deciding game in the 3-match T20I series against Australia.
Ironically, both Yusuf Pathan-Irfan Pathan pair and Hardik Pandya-Krunal Pandya has played most of their domestic cricket for Baroda. Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya play for same franchise Mumbai Indians in Indian Premier League.
If there could be any player, who could be in contention to Krunal Pandya, it would be Vijay Shankar. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder showed great resilience in the final ODI of the match, which might work in his favour.
