Ian Bishop has thrown his support behind Hardik Pandya following the all-rounder's dynamic performance against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. Despite Rohit Sharma's acknowledgement that India is still fine-tuning their batting lineup for the tournament, Pandya's commanding innings in the warm-up match has solidified his place in the team. In the absence of Virat Kohli, Pandya assumed the role of finisher and propelled the team to victory in New York.
Pandya faced criticism during the 2024 IPL season, particularly after taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma at Mumbai Indians. Despite high expectations, Mumbai's trophy drought continued under Pandya's leadership, with the team finishing in 10th place. Pandya also endured a challenging reception from Mumbai fans, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the team's performance. Nonetheless, Bishop remains optimistic about Pandya's ability to make a significant impact at the T20 World Cup.
"I think he is a pretty strong personality. I would like to think that the other members of the team would have rallied around him. What he endured during the IPL, some of it was not of his own making. I just wish fans could have approached it maybe a little differently, but they have the right to voice their views however they see fit," Bishop told the official broadcaster of the T20 World Cup.
Headlining India's lone practice match against Bangladesh, Hardik Pandya delivered a blazing knock of 40 runs off 23 balls, contributing significantly to India's total of 182-5 in 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant emerged as the top scorer for India in their commanding 60-run victory over the formidable Bangladesh side. In addition to his impressive batting display, Pandya also showcased his bowling prowess by picking up the crucial wicket of Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan during his three-over spell. In an interview with Star Sports, Hardik Pandya opened up about facing challenges and overcoming adversity ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“Eventually, I believe, you have to stay in the battle. Sometimes life puts you in situations where things are tough, but I believe that if you leave the game or the field, the battle that is, you won't get what you want from your sport or the results you are looking for. So, yeah, it has been difficult, but at the same time, I have been process-driven, I have tried to follow the same routines I used to follow earlier,” Hardik said.