Hardika Pandya to be dropped from India's T20 World Cup squad? Ajit Agarkar, Rahul Dravid, and Rohit Sharma will decide

Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya has come under scrutiny due to his underwhelming performances during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. According to recent reports, Hardik Pandya's position in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 is in jeopardy.

The captain of the Mumbai Indians returned from a prolonged injury hiatus after sustaining an injury during a league-stage match against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup. His absence during the crucial stage of the tournament disrupted the team’s balance to some extent.

Hardik Pandya's recurring injury concerns continue to hinder his performance, affecting his on-field contributions. The star all-rounder has faced challenges in making an impact with bat or ball for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024, raising doubts about his inclusion in the World Cup.

Hardik Pandya's T20 World Cup Inclusion Under Discussion

According to an Indian Express report, a recent meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai involved India's head coach Rahul Dravid, selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, and captain Rohit Sharma discussing Hardik Pandya's potential return to the Indian team for the T20 World Cup.

Hardik Pandya's return to the Indian World Cup squad hinges on his bowling form during the remaining IPL matches. The meeting emphasized Pandya's requirement for consistent bowling to secure his comeback. Discussions also centered on the team's search for a seam-bowling all-rounder.

Hardik Pandya's Performances In IPL 2024

Pandya's performance in the IPL has drawn criticism, especially since he took over as Mumbai Indians' captain from Rohit Sharma. Both his batting and bowling performances have fallen short of expectations. The MI skipper didn't bowl for a couple of matches in the tournament.

The 30-year-old has bowled in 4 out of 6 matches, with his most recent bowling performance being against the Chennai Super Kings. He bowled only 3 overs, conceding 43 runs while taking 2 wickets. MS Dhoni smashed him for three consecutive sixes in the final over of CSK's innings.

Given Mohammed Shami's absence, Jasprit Bumrah stands as the sole experienced pacer in the team. Mohammed Siraj's struggles in T20Is further underscore the significance of Hardik's consistent bowling and wicket-taking ability for his inclusion in the India squad for the World Cup.

Mumbai Indians To Face Punjab Kings On April 18

Hardik Pandya will next be seen in action when the Mumbai Indians take on the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their upcoming match at the Mullanpur Stadium on Thursday, April 18. The Mumbai-based team currently sits in eighth place in the standings, having won just two out of their six matches so far.

The Baroda-born cricketer has scored 131 runs in six matches at an average of 26.20 and a strike rate of 145.56, with his highest score of 39. He has managed to secure just three wickets in four innings at an average of 44 and a disappointing economy rate of 12.

Mumbai Indians Full Squad: Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, N. Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd, Hardik Pandya (c), Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, Shreyas Gopal, Nuwan Thushara, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammad Nabi, Shivalik Sharma.

Also read: 'MS Dhoni hit 3 sixes, but.."- Kieron Pollard bluntly defends Hardik Pandya's final over fiasco