Hardik Pandya bowled in the nets for the first time in months ahead of New Zealand’s match.© Instagram
Hardik Pandya bowled in the nets for the first time in months on Wednesday, raising his chances of returning to the team for the crucial t20 world cup 2021 The game against New Zealand as an all-rounder and India needs to be given a sixth bowling option. India find themselves in a winning position after their 10-wicket haul from Pakistan. Hardik’s incompetence in bowling has upset the balance of the team. The all-rounder, who last rolled his arms in Sri Lanka The series in July, did not bowl a single over for Mumbai Indians in the UAE leg of the IPL. Hardik also sustained a shoulder injury while batting against Pakistan and did not take the field after India’s innings as he had to go for a scan.
On Wednesday, Hardik did fitness exercises, which included short sprints, under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai and physio Nitin Patel.
After this he bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur in the nets for about 20 minutes. India’s head coach Ravi Shastri and mentor Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept a close watch on Hardik’s progress.
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After his brief bowling stint, Hardik took a throwdown from batting coach Vikram Rathor. Hardik played purely as a batsman against Pakistan but did not live up to the expectations, scoring just 11 runs in eight balls. Hardik’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad raised some eyebrows over his fitness concerns, forcing India to make changes to their 15-man squad, with reserve player Shardul Thakur replacing Axar Patel.
Ahead of Pakistan’s game, skipper Virat Kohli had said that he expects Hardik to bowl at least two overs during the tournament.
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