T20 WC 2021: Four backup options for Hardik Pandya if he misses out

India and Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been selected by the BCCI selection panel as the designated finisher of the team for T20 WC 2021. Indian skipper Virat Kohli has vouched in several of his interviews that the junior Pandya is important in maintaining the balance of the team. It is a well-documented fact that Kohli loves playing five specialist bowlers in all three formats of the game. With his seam bowling and handy lower-order batting, Pandya slots in the team either at number six or seven. Things though have changed since his surgery to the back. Hardik Pandya was not seen bowling fully until the recent limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. He returned to bowling in three ODI games and picked two wickets. While everyone pretty much assumed that he is back with his bowling too getting sorted, MI have so far not used the all-rounder’s services while bowling in two of the games that he has played in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Mahela Jayawardene, head coach of MI said that the team won’t push Hardik to bowl as he might face some difficulties and struggle in the long run during the T20 World Cup. As soon as this news became viral, the experts and critics questioned the selection of Hardik Pandya in the team for the marquee event. India can alter the squad till October 10, and it remains to be seen if Hardik makes the cut as an all-rounder. Meanwhile, here are a few Backup options for Hardik Pandya for the T20 World Cup 1. Shardul Thakur Shardul Thakur. (Photo Source: Twitter) India all-rounder Shardul Thakur is in the team for the T20 World Cup as one of the traveling reserves. During the recently concluded Test series against England, Thakur played two Tests and picked seven wickets. He also contributed with the bat scoring 117 runs across three innings. The Mumbai all-rounder is pretty much similar to Hardik, although Thakur predominately falls under the category of a bowling all-rounder. Thakur can be used in playing XI for India’s matches during the global event due to his impact with both bat and ball. Also, Thakur is not afraid to express himself while batting as was evidenced during the England Tests. His counter-attacking innings of 57 runs during the third Test match Oval was superb and gave the innings an impetus. Thakur’s bowling is also more than decent, and the management can certainly think of slotting him in place of Hardik. Thakur has so far played 21 T20Is and has taken 31 wickets. 2. Krunal Pandya Krunal Pandya. (Photo Source: Getty Images) A lot of eyebrows were raised when the senior of the two Pandya brothers Krunal Pandya was omitted from the squad for T20 World Cup. With Washington Sundar ruled out, Krunal was expected to be included due to his all-around capabilities. Instead, the selectors went with Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin. Krunal is currently playing the ongoing IPL for MI. So far, the all-rounder has not been in his element with dwindling returns with bat and ball. But with Hardik possibly missing out due to his lack of bowling, the management can think of including Krunal to bolster the lower middle-order. Also, the tracks in UAE will assist spin, and the senior Pandya can perfectly exploit the favorable conditions on offer. Krunal can also provide batting death due to his brisk batting. So far, he has played 19 games picking up 15 wickets and scoring 124 runs in 10 innings. 3. Harshal Patel Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) It is not wrong to say that Harshal Patel’s addition to the RCB squad has given the team a great wicket-taking option. Over the years, RCB has struggled to have a good Indian pace bowler, who could consistently pick wickets. Harshal’s inclusion has solved that problem. The right-arm pacer has taken 26 wickets so far with his smart variations. The RCB pacer is also a pretty handy batter lower down the order. Although his batting prowess has not come to the fore for RCB in the IPL, Harshal has a good record as a batter for his state team Haryana. In the IPL, we have seen the oddballs keeping low, and Harshal’s knuckleball has so far been effective in the slow and low UAE pitches. Harshal is yet to make his India debut, but his rich vein of form in the IPL might tempt the selectors to go with a seam-bowling option instead of Hardik Pandya. 4. Deepak Chahar Deepak Chahar. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images) Deepak Chahar is in India’s T20 World Cup squad as a traveling reserve. Chahar’s reputation sky-rocketed, when he scored an epic unbeaten 69 against Sri Lanka in the second ODI. Coming in to bat with India 193 for seven, Chahar held his composure and calmly played his strokes without much fuss. His innings under pressure were lauded by all, and also gave India hope of having a seam-bowling all-rounder up their sleeve. The power play enforcer of CSK is more than handy with the ball. His great control and his deadly swing bowling can be a handful for the opposition if the pitch is favorable for his bowling. Chahar is also pretty much hard to get away in due to his disciplined line and lengths. He can be a perfect foil to Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the T20 World Cup.

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T20 WC 2021: Four backup options for Hardik Pandya if he misses out

Hardik Pandya has not bowled in the two games MI has played so far in the UAE leg of IPL.

4. Deepak Chahar

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