Srinagar: Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has backed underfire all-rounder Hardik Pandya to come good against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024 clash.
Pandya had a very poor Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign managing to score only 216 runs at an average of 18 and 143.04 strike rate this season and with the ball, he bagged 11 wickets.
There were serious conversations on whether he should be selected for the World Cup or not but he was eventually named in the squad.
“He has done really well [for India]. Temporary poor form does not make someone bad. When he will perform well against Pakistan in the World Cup, everyone will praise him,” Raina was quoted by ANI.
India will begin their campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, followed by the marquee clash against Pakistan on June 9 at the same venue.
India’s squad for the World Cup
Rohit Sharma (Captain), Hardik Pandya (Vice Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj.
India T20 World Cup 2024 schedule
June 5, 2024: India vs Ireland — New York
June 9, 2024: India vs Pakistan — New York
June 12, 2024: USA vs India —New York
June 15, 2024: India vs Canada — Florida