Irfan Pathan backed R Ashwin to find a place in India's XI at T20 WC 2022 in Australia.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan hailed Deepak Hooda’s selection in Team India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2022, to be played in Australia from October 13 to November 16.
He further suggested that Team India include Hooda in their playing XI from the very first match and use him as the sixth bowling option in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2022.
Irfan Pathan told Star Sports: “I think Deepak Hooda will need to play from the first game because he is a sixth bowling option, something that you struggled for in the last World Cup. There will be a choice that they have to make between whether they want to play a left-hander in the middle order or Hooda but I feel the latter will have odds in his favour.”
He further opined that if India opts for a left-handed batter in the playing XI, then Rishabh Pant will play ahead of Akshar Patel in the T20 World Cup 2022.
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Pathan added, “If you look from the angle of playing a left-handed batter then definitely Pant will play ahead of Axar. Even if you look at the spin options, I feel Ashwin will play along with Chahal.”
The 37-year-old also suggested that the No. 8 batting position would be ideal for the veteran off-spinner R Ashwin in India’s XI in the T20 World Cup 2022, considering his batting skills.
He signed off by saying, “This is because he has improved his batting a lot and also has had an economy rate of under 8 the whole year. He has improved his power-hitting game and with the template of attacking cricket, I think he will be an ideal No. 8.”