Hardik Pandya has not bowled a single ball in competitive cricket since home England series in March.
Former India cricketer Sarandeep Singh lashed out at the BCCI selection committee and the team management for selecting an unfit Hardik Pandya for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
Hardik Pandya's inability to bowl has become one of the major concerns for the Virat Kohli-led side. The all-rounder didn’t bowl a single over in the IPL 2021 and missed two games due to injury as well.
Despite not being 100% fit, Hardik Pandya was selected in the Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2021 and the all-rounder didn’t bowl a single over in the two warmup games and the first match against Pakistan.
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Moreover, Pandya also injured his shoulder in the game against arch-rivals and was subsequently taken to hospital for precautionary scans.
With him being unfit, the selection committee has invited a lot of criticism for selecting Hardik Pandya in the squad as many feel that an unfit cricketer shouldn't find a place in the team.
Former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh highlighted Hardik Pandya’s fitness issue, saying that the selection committee doesn’t answer the questions asked to them like it used to be in his tenure.
He lashed out at chief selector Chetan Sharma for addressing media only once and walking away with strange replies.
"Hardik Pandya’s fitness issues are being talked about for a while now, but why don’t you ask the selection committee about this? We used to answer all questions during our tenure – if someone was unfit or anything – everything used to be open.
“But why isn’t it the same anymore? Chetan Sharma addressed the media just once, and he spoke something strange and walked away,” Sarandeep Singh told Sportskeeda.
Singh lashed out at the chairman of the selection committee, saying that he needs to be questioned about Hardik Pandya’s fitness issues as before the T20 World Cup he stated that the all-rounder is fit to bowl in the tournament.
He added that it’s unfair to even for Hardik Pandya as he is stuck in controversy for no reason at all.
"When the chairman of the selection committee said he’s fully fit and he will bowl in the World Cup, so the chairman needs to be questioned now where is the fitness.
“He needs to say something – he is injured, he is not able to bowl, something. It’s unfair on Hardik as well, a quality player is stuck in controversy for no fault of his. If the injury is there, it’s okay, can’t do much about it," he said.
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Sarandeep Singh said that the all-rounder wants to bowl but his injury is keeping him out and with him not training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), his fitness status remains unknown.
"Hardik definitely wants to bowl, but since he doesn’t mean his injury is a big one. He doesn’t go to the NCA, he treats himself to the Mumbai Indians staff. So nobody really knows and nobody is saying anything. The reason why Rohit Sharma is not able to say anything in press conferences is that even Rohit doesn’t really know," he said.
Team India will next face New Zealand on 31st October, in what is a must-win clash for both sides.
(Sportskeeda inputs)