(Hardik Pandya X)
Sunil Subramanian, a former cricketer from Tamil Nadu, has expressed his belief that Indian vice-captain Hardik Pandya was not a suitable choice for the T20 World Cup squad. Subramanian’s remarks were focused on India’s decision to field two spinners in the playing XI for the tournament. He offered no support for Pandya, who had a disappointing stint as captain of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 season.
This IPL season marked the first time in three years that Hardik Pandya failed to guide his team to a top-four finish. Previously, he led the Gujarat Titans to an IPL title in 2022 and came close to winning again in the following year, finishing as runners-up.
Sunil Subramanian believes that omitting Hardik Pandya from the team will restore equilibrium to the Indian side.
In a recent interview, Sunil Subramanian critiqued the composition of Team India’s 15-man squad for the World Cup. He began by questioning the rationale behind the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, opting for an additional spin-bowling all-rounder, Axar Patel, as backup for Ravindra Jadeja.
Subramanian argued that Rinku Singh deserved a spot in the squad instead of Axar Patel. He further suggested that Vice-captain Hardik Pandya’s inclusion was unnecessary, advocating for left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed to provide the team with better balance.
Additionally, Subramanian asserted that due to the nature of the outfield in New York, only one among Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal would likely feature in the playing XI.
“India may have picked one spin-bowling allrounder too many. Rinku Singh for Axar and Khaleel Ahmed for vice-captain Hardik would have balanced the side better. There is no way both wrist spinners will play, especially in Nassau County in New York. It is a Mickey Mouse ground with the straight boundary being 55 meters only.” – Subramanian said.
Subramanian elaborates on the circumstances under which Kuldeep and Chahal could potentially play alongside each other.
Sunil Subramanian outlined the scenarios where Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal could share the field together. He suggested that such a pairing might occur during critical matches, particularly when India faces a do-or-die situation and Hardik Pandya is unable to bowl his full quota of overs with full intensity, or when the pace bowlers are under pressure.
Subramanian advised caution to the team management, advising them to consider fielding the leg-spinning duo primarily during matches in the West Indies, where conditions favor slower bowling. Additionally, he proposed an alternative approach, where India could accommodate both Kuldeep and Chahal by dropping Yashasvi Jaiswal and allowing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to open the innings.
“Only if they are in a must-win situation. If Hardik is unable to bowl four overs and if one of the pacers gets hit, that may happen. But only in the West Indies leg of the tournament. The only other way to play both wrist spinners is by dropping Jaiswal and opening with Kohli and Rohit. They will not do that. They will err on the side of caution.” – Sunil Subramanian concluded.
