Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has emphasized the importance of a collective batting effort for India to win the upcoming ODI World Cup. While acknowledging the significance of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the batting department, he also stressed that Hardik Pandya could be equally crucial to India’s success.
Harbhajan expressed concerns about India’s recent batting performances, noting that the team’s batting unit had been inconsistent, especially during the Asia Cup 2023. In the match against Pakistan, key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill failed to perform, creating concerns within the team as they prepare for the World Cup.
“I think our batting needs to perform consistently. It has been inconsistent over the past few weeks. So, a lot will depend on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,” said the veteran spinner.
Harbhajan acknowledged that the return of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul would boost the team. However, since they are coming back from injuries, they need match practice before the World Cup, adding to the pressure on Rohit and Kohli.
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“We are not sure whether KL Rahul will play after recovering from his injury, and Shreyas Iyer has just returned from injury. Ishan Kishan also seems to be in good form,” he commented.
While Kohli and Rohit are expected to lead the batting charge, Harbhajan emphasized that Hardik Pandya’s performance is equally crucial.
“Hardik Pandya’s performance will be just as critical as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s. The top order looks strong, but the middle order relies heavily on Hardik and others’ form,” he added.
Harbhajan highlighted Hardik Pandya’s recent all-round performance in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan, where he scored 87 crucial runs, helping India avoid a potential setback. Alongside Ishan Kishan, who contributed 82 runs, Pandya played a pivotal role in stabilizing India’s innings.
“I believe they need to come together to deliver exceptional cricket to win the World Cup. Otherwise, it will be quite challenging,” he concluded.