Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron has picked Hardik Pandya ahead of Shivam Dube in the T20 World Cup squad. Pandya isn’t in the best of forms for Mumbai Indians and Aaron feels the all-rounder might be regretting his decision to move from Gujarat Titans to his former team, MI.
Pandya scored an impressive knock of 46 runs off 24 balls in the previous match against Delhi Capitals but his efforts went in vain as they lost by 10 runs.
Meanwhile, Pandya led Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022 and helped his team make it to the final in the previous season.
On the other hand, Shivam Dube has been in sensational form for the reigning champions Chennai Super Kings. Dube has scored 350 runs in nine matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 58.33 and a blistering strike rate of 172.41. However, the lanky all-rounder hasn’t bowled because of the impact player rule.
“Hardik for sure. Hardik is a proven match-winner. I know he is not at his best at the moment. There is so much noise around the Mumbai Indians camp. He is taking on a lot of pressure. No matter what happens, he must be thinking, man.. I was winning trophies in GT (Gujarat Titans). I was the captain. We came runners-up. Why the hell did I come here! (laughs). Because it’s a lot of pressure. And I would say it’s needless pressure because you were doing well, you were setting up your legacy at the Gujarat Titans,” Aaron told Star Sports when asked to pick one between Pandya and Dube.
“But then he has come to Mumbai Indians and I understand why because he loves Mumbai. He loves Mumbai Indians. They gave him the initial platform and he has gone on to conquer a lot in world cricket through that. But you gotta see he had a really good run at the Titans. So, I think once you remove him from that pressure kind-of spot, he will shine,” he added.
Mumbai Indians have managed only three wins in nine games. MI will take on LSG at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday.
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