"Playing For India Brings Out A Different Energy" - Sunil Gavaskar Backs Hardik Pandya To Excel At T20 World Cup 2024

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has backed underfire Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya to excel at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member India T20 squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA. As previously revealed by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, Rohit Sharma will captain the Indian cricket team, while seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be his deputy. Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians' inconsistent performance has hampered their IPL 2024 playoff qualification. Despite having proven match-winners in their squad, MI have struggled to win games this season, suffering seven losses in ten matches. Their three wins are due to pacer Jasprit Bumrah's individual brilliance and the big-hitting Romario Shepherd. Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians need to win all their remaining four matches and hope other results go their way even to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.

Sunil Gavaskar backs Hardik Pandya to excel at T20 World Cup 2024

One of the major weaknesses of India's 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 is the current form of star all-rounder and Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. As seen so far in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, MI skipper Hardik Pandya has failed to contribute both with the bat and ball, especially coming in from a long injury lay-off. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has backed underfire Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya to excel at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

"There's a big difference between playing for your country and playing in the IPL. Playing for your country just brings out a different energy in every player, and Hardik will be a different player. He has had to face a lot of issues in this tournament," Sunil Gavaskar said.

Sunil Gavaskar acknowledged that Hardik Pandya had been unable to perform in the IPL due to the negativity surrounding him since he was appointed MI’s skipper. However, the legendary cricketer believes Hardik will be in a completely different state of mind in the T20 World Cup. He backed the star all-rounder to be the X-Factor with the bat and the ball.

"He has handled it quite well. So, when he goes overseas and plays for India, he will be in a completely different frame of mind. And that's going to be a much more positive frame of mind than what we have seen in this tournament. So Hardik will make good contributions with both bat and ball in the World Cup," Gavaskar added.

Many questions about whether Hardik Pandya would compete in the T20 World Cup 2024 were raised. The 30-year-old has been under immense pressure amid Mumbai Indians' horrible IPL 2024 campaign. Coming into the IPL season after injury, Hardik Pandya was made captain of the five-time champions, and under his leadership, MI has not been able to flourish. Team India will be taking on Ireland, which is scheduled to take place at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on June 5.