Srinagar: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has said winning World Cup is bigger than IPL and BCCI should worl to bring Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya together for the T20 World Cup 2024.
After guiding Gujarat Titans (GT) to Indian Premier League (IPL) glory, Hardik Pandya completed a sensational switch to the Mumbai Indians for the 2024 season.
Hardik not only returned to MI for the IPL 2024 season, but also succeeded Rohit as the leader of the Mumbai-based franchise.
Despite his below-par run in the IPL 2024, all-rounder Hardik was picked in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. The MI skipper is roped in as Rohit’s deputy for the ICC event. With MI enduring a disastrous IPL season, Harbhajan has backed Hardik to bounce back in Indian colours at the grandest stage.
“When he wears that blue jersey, he will be a different Hardik Pandya because we know he can score those runs and take those wickets. I want Hardik to come good as he has gone through a lot and I wish him all the very best to have a very good tournament for India,” Harbhajan told PTI.
“If he has a good tournament, obviously India will have a great chance to go forward. Yes, his form is a bit of a concern…and lot of other stuff was going on around him, his shifting from Gujarat to Mumbai, was a big change and the team (MI) didn’t react too well to Hardik coming back and that too as captain,” the former MI skipper added.
“It looked like they (MI) were not playing together as a team. So there was a lot going on. Hardik wasn’t a free man in the last two months. I believe both of them and many others who have played in different teams will have to come together to do something special for the nation. Winning a World Cup is a bigger achievement than winning an IPL trophy, so I would urge the management to bring everyone together, have them on one page and make sure they play like one. I believe it’s the responsibility of the management to come together, and win together. Even if they lose they should be losing together,” Harbhajan added.