"Yes, I'll bowl.." Hardik Pandya promised BCCI secretary Jay Shah he'll bowl at T20 WC - Reports

Hardik Pandya picked 11 wickets in eight matches at the ICC T20 World Cup.

During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, Hardik Pandya had a phone conversation with the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who inquired about Pandya’s bowling fitness. To which, the all-rounder replied in affirmation and promised Shah that he would bowl for his country in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 tournament.

There were doubts over Hardik’s form and fitness during the IPL 2024 season, where he was leading the Mumbai Indians (MI). MI had a terrible season, finishing at the bottom of the points table and captain Pandya also under-performed in his role as an all-rounder.

With Pandya, there has been a cloud of fitness concern since his back injury in 2018; he hasn’t played red-ball cricket since and has only focussed on white-ball cricket.

Yes Jay brother, I will bowl: Hardik Pandya told Jay Shah

So it was understandable that the BCCI secretary rang up Pandya to learn about his bowling fitness.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Pandya confidently told Shah in Gujarati, “Ha Jay bhai, hu bowling nakhis (Yes Jay brother, I will bowl).”

Hardik being fit to bowl provided great balance to the Indian team. India played with their preferred combination during the T20 World Cup because of Hardik, and the Baroda cricketer stepped up regularly to give crucial breakthroughs.

His most memorable bowling performances came in the group stage against Pakistan and in the final against South Africa.

In the final, he dismissed the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen who had mauled 52 runs in 27 balls and was taking the game away from India. Then Pandya was tasked to defend 16 runs in the last over and got rid of David Miller on the first ball with the help of a sensational catch from Suryakumar Kumar Yadav.

Pandya picked 11 wickets in all at an average of 17.36. With the bat, he scored 144 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.

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