 "Michael Vaughan believes Hardik Pandya will be important to India's chances at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Image: PTI")
Hardik Pandya’s presence in the Indian team will be crucial for the Men in Blue at the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA, feels former England cricketer Michael Vaughan. India have not won a major ICC trophy since 2013 when they lifted the Champions Trophy in England, but Vaughan believes that with Hardik in the side, India will have a “great chance” to break their trophy drought.
“For India to win the world cup, they need Hardik Pandya, they need him playing well. They need to over the next few weeks get that confidence level right up to the top because India with Hardik flying have got a great chance of lifting the trophies,” Vaughan said on the Ranveer Show.
Pandya is currently leading Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024 but his return to the franchise from Gujarat Titans (GT) was not well-received by fans who booed Pandya in the initial few matches where MI lost. MI ended their winless run against Delhi Capitals (DC) on 7 April and followed it up with another win, over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on 11 April.
The IPL marked Pandya’s return to competitive cricket after he had sustained an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Vaughan feels that apart from Pandya, India will need Rishabh Pant also to play well. Pant returned to action after 15 months absence due to multiple injuries he sustained in a car accident in December 2022. Pant, leading DC, has thus far scored 194 runs from six matches this IPL that includes two fifties.
“I don’t think they (India) will (win) unless they have a Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant playing well. For India to win T20 World Cup, Rishabh has to play. He has to be playing to a level that it was was before injury. He is kind of getting back to that level and they need Hardik Pandya the allrounder (as well),” Vaughan said.