India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was not included in the T20I squad against New Zealand for the upcoming series at home. Hardik, who hasn't been at his best in performance and fitness, was assumed to be rested for the series.
However, the selection committee hasn't made anything clear regarding the omission of Hardik from the 16-member squad. Apart from him, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja are also not part of the T20I series against the Kiwis.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Kohli, Bumrah, Shami, and Jadeja deserved the rest but he has doubts whether Hardik has been rested or dropped. He also pointed out that the Baroda cricketer hasn't been performing his role in the team very well.
“Kohli has been rested, which was due. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s rest was also deserved. Ravindra Jadeja has also played in England (Test series), then the IPL, and the T20 World Cup, so it was a good call to rest him. But I’ve some doubts over Hardik Pandya’s absence. Has he been rested? Did he need rest?", he said on his official YouTube channel.
Chopra further said that Hardik's struggle in the last year hasn't helped him secure his position in the side. “He didn’t feature in the Test series against England and played 7 matches in the IPL where he didn’t bowl as well.
"In the World Cup, he bowled limited number of overs and batted in three games. So, is he really been rested or is there a message that’s been conveyed?”, he said.
India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj
