Hardik Pandya wil be an automatic pick for T20 World Cup 2022 if he bowls well: Sunil Gavaskar

The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 is sort of a virtual audition for Indian players to make a mark and find a place in the national team for the T20 World Cup, which will take place later this year in Australia. Hence, many players would want to make it big in the gala competition. One of them is Hardik Pandya, who hasn’t played for India since the side’s early exit in the T20 World Cup last year.

Hardik’s selection in the Indian team came under the scanner as he wasn’t able to bowl regularly due to fitness issues. However, fans were elated to see the right-arm pacer completing his quota of four overs during Gujarat Titan’s five-wicket triumph over Lucknow Super Giants. Hardik is leading the Titans this season and he’ll certainly have a point to prove.

Notably, Hardik, who gave away 37 runs in four overs, was often breaching the 140-kmph mark. He also scored 33 off 28 balls, playing a vital role in his team’s win. Meanwhile, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar reckons Hardik would be an ‘automatic pick’ in India’s T20 World Cup squad if he continues to bowl regularly.

How many overs Hardik Pandya will bowl is a question: Sunil Gavaskar

“Whether Hardik Pandya will bowl, how many overs he will bowl, will also be something which not just the Gujarat Titans, but the entire cricketing fraternity will be looking forward to. Because if he starts to bowl and bowl well, with his batting ability, make no mistake, he will become an automatic selection for the World T20,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

Meanwhile, it was the first game of the season for the two new franchises and the proceedings went right down to the wire. Thanks to well-paced half-centuries from Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni, the Super Giants posted 158/6 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, the Titans managed to cross the line with a couple of deliveries to spare, clinching the contest by five wickets.