ICC T20 World Cup 2021: 4 Players Who Can Replace Hardik Pandya In Team India

ICC T20 World Cup 2021: 4 Players Who Can Replace Hardik Pandya In Team India. The Indian Cricket Team will go into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites to lift the title. However, the BCCI is a little concerned about the fitness of a few Indian players in the squad.

Though the T20 World Cup 2021 is just around the corner one could still see a couple of changes taking place in the squad. India still have 5 days to send their final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2o21 and reports have suggested that Hardik Pandya might be ruled out of the tournament.

Hardik Pandya was selected as the seaming all-rounder in the squad. However, the 28-year old hasn’t bowled for a while now. He didn’t bowl a single over for MI during the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE. Besides, he didn’t look at his best with the bat either and often got out on low scores. Looking at his poor form and injury concerns, chances of high that he might get replaced.

On that note, here’s a look at four players who can replace Hardik Pandya in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2021.

T20 World Cup 2021: 4 Players Who Can Replace Hardik Pandya In Team India

Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar could be a great pick as a replacement for Hardik Pandya in the squad. He gets the movement in the air early on in the power play which puts the opposition batsmen under pressure. Deepak Chahar has a knack for picking wickets early on and that makes him a serious contender for Hardik’s replacement in the squad.

His ability to contribute with the bat isn’t an unknown fact either. He certainly has in him to score runs for the team down the order and Chahar has shown that a number of times. His match-winning 69-run knock against Sri Lanka is a perfect example of that.

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur is one of the best seaming all-rounders India have at the moment. There is no denying that Shardul has improved by leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. Shardul Thakur has time and again come out in difficult situations and helped India get wickets.

His variety of slower balls could come in handy on the slow tracks in UAE. Shardul has been performing well with the ball for CSK in the ongoing IPL 2021. He has, in fact, picked the most wickets for CSK this season. In 15 matches, he has 18 wickets to his name at an average of 27.17.

Besides, he can be trusted to get the late flourish needed with the bat in the final few overs of the innings. Thakur’s recent form might temp selectors to give him the nod ahead of everyone else on the list.

Harshal Patel

The way Harshal Patel is bowling right now it won’t be a wrong decision to add him to India’s squad for the big-ticket event. He has singlehandedly won matches for RCB with the ball. He has a five-for, four-for and a hat-trick in IPL this season. In 14 matches, he has managed to pick 30 wickets at a strike rate of around 10.

Harshal Patel’s slower balls have proved to be his biggest weapon and it can come in handy against the big teams on the slow tracks of UAE in ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Harshal Patel hasn’t played a single match for India at the international level, but given how he has been bowling in the ongoing IPL 2021, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if BCCI adds him to the 15-man squad.

Umran Malik

After playing just a few IPL matches, Umran Malik has become a popular name in the world of cricket. The 21-year old recently made headlines after bowling the fastest delivery in IPL 2021. He clocked 152.95 KPH against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dabhi last Wednesday.

Malik has impressed one and all by consistently bowling at 140 clicks. The BCCI has now asked him to stay back in UAE as he has been selected as the net bowler for T20 World Cup 2021.

Coming into the SRH’s squad as a replacement for T Natarajan, Malik played three matches and took everyone by surprise with his speed. If reports are to be believed, the young pacer from Kashmir has now been looked at as a contender for Hardik Pandya’s replacement in the T20 World Cup 2021 squad.