Rohit Sharma, Ajit Agarkar pressurized by BCCI top brass to include Hardik Pandya in T20 WC 2024 squad - Reports

Hardik Pandya was named vice-captain of the Indian T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

Hardik Pandya was included in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad under pressure, a new report has claimed. Pandya was named in the Indian 15-member squad and as a surprise to many, was named vice-captain as well.

The report also claimed that India captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were not in favor of Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup, but they were forced to include the all-rounder in the 15-member squad.

After losing by ten wickets to England in the semi-finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Rohit and Virat Kohli went into T20I hibernation to focus on ODIs for the 2023 World Cup in India. While they were away, Hardik was given command of the team in T20Is. He captained India against New Zealand and Sri Lanka at home.

Hardik was expected to fully take over as India’s T20I captain, while Rohit and Kohli had played their last T20I for India, indicating an informal retirement from the format.

BCCI top brass pressure Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma to include Hardik Pandya in India’s T20 World Cup squad

However, the theory was banished when Indian selectors announced that Rohit and Kohli had returned for the T20I series against Afghanistan at home. Everything was back to square one.

According to a Dainik Jagran report, neither Rohit nor Ajit Agarkar, nor the BCCI selection panel, wanted Hardik to be included in India’s 15-member T20 World Cup roster. However, they had to give in to the ‘pressure.’

There was no mention of what the pressure was or who was causing it. However, this ‘pressure’ derives from the assumption that the BCCI’s higher management regards Hardik as India’s future captain, at least in Twenty20 Internationals.

On the other hand, Hardik has not exactly bloomed in the IPL 2024. Hardik has been far from his best, scoring 200 runs and taking 11 wickets. His last two seasons with the Gujarat Titans produced a total of 833 runs and 11 wickets.

Hardik’s selection in the World Cup squad and as India’s vice-captain also concerns Rohit’s future in T20 internationals.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket for IPL 2024 Live Score & IPL Points Table,  on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.