Virat Kohli’s childhood coach furious at this Indian player’s statement
India had a horrible T20 World Cup in 2021 despite going into the tournament as one of the favourites. The embarrassing loss to Pakistan aside, India just couldn’t find the right balance to their side and failed to live up to expectations with bat and ball.
Months after the tournament has finished, analysis and insights are still flooding on India’s showing in the tournament. Now, just before India take on West Indies in a limited-overs series starting February 6, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has come out with a scything statement against a comment made by this Indian player who was part of the T20 World Cup squad.
A former Ranji Trophy player, Rajkumar represented Delhi until 1991 and later made a name as a cricket coach, notably coaching Virat Kohli in his West Delhi Cricket Academy.
Rajkumar’s statement is against Hardik Pandya, who recently claimed that he was picked in the Indian T20 World Cup squad as a pure batter. Hardik had faced the heat of the media and fans after turning up half fit, an injury he has been carrying for a while, unable to bowl his quota of overs.
On the show Backstage with Boria, run by reputed journalist Boria Majumdar, Hardik said: “The position we were in at the World Cup, I felt everything was thrown at me. I was selected in the squad as a batter. I worked hard to bowl in the 1st game, but I couldn’t. I did bowl in the 2nd one even when I wasn’t supposed to.”
Speaking to Khelneeti, a YouTube channel, Rajkumar criticised the comment made by Hardik, pointing out that he was placing the selectors and team that placed faith in him in bad light.
What Rajkumar said against Hardik Pandya
“The selectors and team management favoured Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup 2021. Him coming out and saying what he said is not a mature statement. You should be thankful that they picked you were picked by the team management for the T20 World Cup, despite fitness concerns.”
Nikhil Chopra, former India international, who was also in the discussion pointed out that there was no clarification from the selectors in the press conferences about Hardik’s role.
Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: Uncapped Indian players who can start a bidding war
“The selectors in their press conference should have clarified that they have picked Hardik Pandya as just a batter and will only bowl when his body allows. There is no point in making such statements now on Pandya’s part. The captain would have surely asked him before bowling him.”
“Hardik Pandya might have thought that he was targeted for India’s poor showing at the T20 World Cup. Several times a player does come under the scanner when the team underperforms. It could have happened with Pandya this time around.”