Team India might have heaved a sigh of relief after Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan's dazzling batting performances in MI’s last league match of IPL 2021 against SRH, but there are still concerns over all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s inability to bowl and spinner Varun Chakaravarthy’s fitness heading into the T20 World Cup.
According to a report published in ANI, MS Dhoni, who has been named India's mentor for the marquee event, will be skipper Virat Kohli's go-to man when it comes to deciding on the duo's fate.
While Varun's fitness isn't a huge concern, Hardik didn’t bowl a single over in the second phase of IPL 2021 for Mumbai and it could be difficult for him to get a place in the playing XI as a specialist batter.
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"See, Dhoni in his initial years as skipper had to face the situation that Kohli might face when it comes to the fitness of Varun. You need to find options when the player in question is a match-winner and there is no doubt that Varun's four overs can turn matches. Dhoni's input will certainly be crucial in this situation and his past experience should help.
"But the bigger concern is Hardik as he is an altogether different player when he can bat and bowl. Imagine having two match-winning all-rounders in the form of Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja. But the same Hardik becomes slightly less effective if he can't bowl and the team composition needs a rethink in that case," a source in the know of developments told ANI.
When it comes to playing Pandya only as a batter, the source said that the likes of Dhoni, Kohli, vice-captain Rohit and head coach Ravi Shastri will sit together to take a final call.
"Does he have the ability to win you games as a finisher? Yes, he does. But would you play him purely as a finisher or a lower-order batsman? This is where the role of a mentor like MSD becomes all the more crucial. He has seen Hardik grow as a cricketer and his input will be important as the middle-order would need the experience of someone like Hardik who has played in showpiece events.
"If you look at the current middle-order, you have an in-form Surya and Ishan, but they haven't played in showpiece events and the pressure that a World Cup can bring is unthinkable unless you are out in the middle," the source explained.
Asked about the exact problem faced by Hardik, the source said: "You have to understand that there are certain muscles and tissues that he has used in his body while bowling over the last decade or even more. Now, with the surgery and the slight tweak in action, his muscles and tissues might be taking more time to adapt to the new process. It is something that can happen to any sportsperson.
"The input of the Indian physio will also be crucial now that Hardik enters the Indian team bubble. So far, he was being monitored by the MI physio. It is a different thing to watch videos and see someone live. I believe the physio's input could play a key role in Hardik's case."
(With ANI inputs)
