Hardik Pandya knows what is expected of him: KL Rahul on all-rounder’s exclusion from India T20I squad

Team India opener KL Rahul has backed all-rounder Hardik Pandya to return to the T20I squad after he was dropped for the upcoming series against New Zealand this month.

Hardik Pandya was one of the notable absences from the Indian T20I squad after a mediocre campaign with the bat in the recent World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Pandya scored 11*, 23 and 35* runs on three occasions in Super 12 against Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan respectively.

He bowled only two overs each in the games against New Zealand and Afghanistan, which did not help his objective either.

So the selectors decided to ignore Pandya due to his lack of form and his inability to bowl due to a back problem. He has instead roped in the uncapped Venkatesh Iyer, who impressed with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 in the UAE.

But Rahul exuded full confidence in Pandya’s abilities and said he knew what it took to make a comeback on the Indian white-ball set.

“He knows exactly what he needs to do and what is expected of him. He is smart enough to understand it,” Rahul said during a virtual press conference in Jaipur on Monday.

India and New Zealand will play 3 T20Is from November 17 before the first Test in Kanpur. They will then return to Mumbai for the second match starting from December 3 at the Wankhede Stadium.

The hosts will be without first-team regulars Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant in both the red-ball games as they have also been rested.