Hardik Pandya breaks silence on his T20 World Cup 'setback'; 'Everything was thrown at me'

Team India's stalwart Hardik Pandya is all set to don new innings into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as the star allrounder has been named as the skipper of the Ahemdabad team. Hardik Pandya was axed from the Indian Cricket Team after the cricketer could not achieve his fitness and therefore did not bowl in full-flow for the 'Men in Blue' in the T20 World Cup. Now, Hardik Pandya has broken his silence over the setbacks and failures he had to deal after Team India's poor performance at the T20 World Cup. 

In a conversation with Boaria Mujmdar, Hardik Pandya clarified that he was selected in the team as a batter, not an allrounder, however, he still tried his level best to start bowling. Expressing his feelings, Hardik Pandya stated that everything was thrown upon at him for Team India's poor performance. 

"To be honest, during the world cup (T20 World Cup 2021), I was getting some vibes that a lot of things came on me. Obviously, that is fine, but the position which we were in and when I went I felt everything was kept on me. Everything was thrown at me. I didn't bowl but I was selected in a team as a batter. I worked hard to bowl in the first game which obviously I was not able to. I got hit in the first game. In the second game, I bowled. I was not supposed to bowl. But eventually, things happened," said Hardik Pandya. 

Also Read: I have always worked hard and will continue to do so, says Hardik Pandya

Cricket experts around the world lambasted the Team India skipper Virat Kohli and the BCCI selectors for keeping Hardik Pandya in the world cup squad despite of the fact that the Baroda-based cricketer was not fit for bowling. Even during the IPL 2021, Hardik Pandya did not bowl a single over for the Mumbai Indians and the MI skipper Rohit Sharma was seen puzzled to balance the team's combination by playing Pandya as a batter. 

During the conversation, Hardik Pandya further expressed that he is looking to make a come in Team India and win the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 for the 'Men in Blue'. Furthermore, Pandya expressed that he does not want to rush into his bowling, however the idea is to come into into his peak when the T20 World Cup 2022 arrives, and for that IPL 2022 will be a nice preparation.