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Former India coach Ravi Shastri believes the squad needs a first-choice all-rounder at No. 6, knocking Hardik Pandya out of the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022. Hardik has been unable to play at full speed since returning from surgery to treat a back injury.
With the forthcoming T20 World Cup giving India a chance to make amends for their league-stage elimination in the previous edition of the event in the UAE, the team management will be scouring the IPL for players who can fill the number six place as an all-rounder and help balance the XI.
Shastri told ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday, “I think the all-position rounder’s at No. 6 for sure” (March 23). “Ideally, a top-five bowler who can bowl two or three overs.” This relieves the captain of some of his responsibilities. It offers him a total of six and a half bowlers to select from. That’ll be one of the things I’ll be paying close attention to. Of course, there’s also rapid bowling and fielding. I’m not too concerned with the batting order. “Batting is available.”
Hardik Pandya was performing well until he got a stress fracture in his back, after which he hasn’t been the same player. Despite this, Gujarat Titans have named him skipper for the first time in the IPL.
Shastri, on the other hand, believes Hardik will struggle to break into the Indian T20 squad as a pure batter because the team is already overflowing with power-hitters. “There’s a lot of muscle in the top five.” Anyone in positions 5, 6, and upwards will be required to bring an extra department to the game.
“That’s why, from Hardik’s perspective, India’s perspective, and the Gujarat team’s perspective, it’s critical that he strings those two or three overs together because if he does and bowls with even limited success, he becomes an automatic choice in the Indian team.”
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