Indian team players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah from the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise will be entering the team hotel on October 12, 2021, ahead of the ICC T20 world Cup 2021.
However, all eyes will be on all-rounder Hardik Pandya, whose spot in the Indian squad for the ICC event is in doubt over fitness concerns. Pandya has not bowled a single ball for MI in the IPL 2021 and missed a handful of games in the second leg which is being played in UAE.
Speaking to ANI, sources in the team management confirmed the MI boys will be moving into Th8 Palm on Tuesday.
"Rohit and boys are coming in today. It would obviously be in focus how Hardik is progressing and that is no rocket science. But he should be good to go for the showpiece event. Well, that call obviously needs to be taken by the team management and with MS Dhoni coming in as a mentor, you do know the best call will be taken. But yes, you must realize the lack of big-match experience in the Indian middle-order, especially when it comes to handling high-voltage clashes like India-Pakistan," the source said.
Source further said that while Hardik might not be bowling at the moment, he is still considered an X-Factor with the ability to turn matches on its head on his own.
"You are born with it. And Hardik is undoubtedly an X-factor, be it with the ball as we saw against Bangladesh in the last T20 World Cup, or with the bat as we have seen a number of times. You want such players in big-ticket events because they can win you games out of nowhere. If you ask me, he will be in the team and the physio will try and make him work his way to the bowling crease," the source pointed.
The T20 World Cup will begin with the Round 1 Group B encounter between hosts Oman and Papua New Guinea on October 17.
India will face Pakistan in their first match of the Super 12s round in Dubai on October 24.
(ANI inputs)
