Hardik Pandya Secures Vice-Captaincy For T20 World Cup 2024 Under External Pressure

Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar were not in favour of picking Hardik Pandya for the T20 World Cup 2024. However, the all-rounder was not only picked but named India vice-captain under 'big pressure'.

A report in Dainik Jagran has suggested that captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar did not want Hardik Pandya in the 15-member India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.

Hardik, who replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2024, has struggled in the IPL 2024. The move to appoint him the captain backfired as Mumbai Indians became the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs race.

The 30-year-old has scored 200 runs in 13 matches at an average of 18.18 and a strike rate of 144.92. He has also picked 11 wickets at an average of 32.72 and an economy rate of 10.58. Majority of his wickets came after he was picked in the India squad.

The appointment of Hardik as MI captain, and the unceremonious sacking of Rohit from the position saw the management and the owners of the five-time champions facing massive public backlash. Hardik Pandya was booed in several stadiums during the ongoing IPL 2024.

Reports have suggested that the Mumbai Indians dressing room has also got divided into two camps. While majority of the Indian players are with Rohit, the foreign stars are responding to the commands of Hardik. Speculations of Rohit Sharma playing his last season of IPL 2024 are also doing the rounds.

The Dainik Bhaskar report added that there was doubt over Hardik Pandya's inclusion in the India playing 11 despite him getting a spot due to some 'big pressure'. He might not be part of the playing eleven for all the matches.

India squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), 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

Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan