Kohli ignored by Rohit Sharma pinning hopes on Hardik for World Cup

 

'His form will be crucial': Rohit Sharma praises India's superstar at press conference.

In India's Asia Cup 2023 first match against Pakistan, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi scalped the valuable wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli inside the first seven overs of the blockbuster encounter on Saturday. Rohit's Team India were reduced to 66-4 in 14.1 overs and the Men in Blue were on the verge of an embarrassing batting collapse at Pallekele.

From 66-4 to 204-5, Rohit's depleted team staged a spectacular comeback against Pakistan in the continental tournament. When Team India was in trouble, it was Hardik Pandya who stepped up to save Team India from a dangerous situation. The vice-captain teamed up with Ishan Kishan on the song to take India to a respectable score.

Allowing young Kishan to play his natural game, Pandya played the role of an anchor to help India battle it out against their arch-rivals. A day after India sealed their place in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup, the two-time world champions announced their squad for the World Cup. The white-ball player was named India's vice-captain for the ICC event. Talking to reporters in the press conference, Rohit made a special mention of his deputy Pandya.

“his bowling has been good too” said rohit

“His form will be crucial to us. He’s a guy who does both the things (batting and bowling), and that’s important. In the last year or so he has come up with the bat and his bowling has been good too. That’s important for us,” Rohit was speaking after chief selector Ajit Agarkar announced India's 15-man squad for the 50-over World Cup.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kishan, who replaced KL Rahul in India's squad for the Asia Cup group stage, has retained his place in the Indian squad for the World Cup. Kishan scored a crucial 82 against Pakistan, while vice-captain Pandya top-scored for India (87) against Babar & Co. in the Asia Cup. Pandya and Kishan added 138 runs in the fifth over as India reached 266 in the rain-affected match.

“You saw the quality in the last game against Pakistan. Ishan and Hardik put their hands up and scored well. Obviously, with bowling too he’s great. He has bowled well in the last year and a half for us. The way he batted in the last game showed that he has a very mature head on his shoulders. These are good signs for us,” the Indian captain added. After sharing the points in the opening match of the Asia Cup, India will once again take on Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the tournament on Sunday.