• Sportzyverse
• T20 World Cup 2024
• 06/01/2024
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As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared insights into the roles of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube in the Indian squad. Pathan, a member of the 2007 World Cup-winning team, emphasized that both players will have unique responsibilities, with Pandya being the first-choice finisher and Dube stepping in during crucial knockout stages.

Distinct Roles for Pandya and Dube

Despite ongoing debates about which player should be included in India’s starting XI, Pathan believes both Pandya and Dube will have the opportunity to showcase their finishing skills. “Hardik Pandya will have a set role to finish the game, while Shivam Dube will act as a floater, particularly in the playoffs, and serve as an enforcer against spinners,” Pathan said at the Star Sports Press Room.

Pandya, who had a challenging IPL season with the Mumbai Indians, scoring just 216 runs, is expected to regain his form ahead of the World Cup. In contrast, Dube had a stellar season with the Chennai Super Kings, amassing 396 runs at a strike rate of 162.29, including three half-centuries.

Pathan noted that India’s schedule leading up to the Super 8 stage would allow the team to build confidence. “The good thing about the Indian team now is that they will get a chance to be in form before the Super 8, as we will play teams who are not at the top level apart from Pakistan. This will give us the opportunity to perform and start feeling good. Once on the big stage, if you start feeling good, it’s a different ball game altogether. I hope this happens,” he said.

Addressing Pandya’s decline in batting performance, Pathan suggested that he revert to his previous, broader batting stance to improve his hitting ability. “Hardik’s hitting ability has gone down, likely because he wants to bat up the order. He used to have a bigger batting stance, a wider stance, which gives you a good base. But in the last 1.5 years, his stance has narrowed slightly. When you have that kind of stance, you have much more free movement, which you want when the ball is doing something. So, I really think if he wants to play that kind of role, he needs to go back to his original stance,” Pathan explained.

Pandya’s Dual Role as a Bowling All-Rounder

Pandya’s recent form with the ball has been promising, as he picked up 11 wickets towards the end of the IPL season. Pathan believes that maintaining his bowling form will boost Pandya’s confidence in his batting. “If he is bowling well, it will help his batting as well because he primarily plays in the Indian team as a batting all-rounder rather than a bowling all-rounder. However, it works both ways; if you do well in one area, it boosts your confidence in the other. I’ve experienced this as an all-rounder,” Pathan said.

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Pathan remains optimistic about Pandya’s prospects in the T20 World Cup, confident that he will resolve any issues with his batting and play a significant role in India’s campaign. “By the time the World Cup comes, he will sort out any issues with his hitting ability and play a major role in the tournament,” Pathan concluded.

With the T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, the roles of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube will be crucial for India’s success. Pathan’s insights shed light on their distinct responsibilities and the potential impact they could have on the team’s performance.