This IPL Star Deserved Place In India's T20 World Cup Squad, Sunil Gavaskar's Blunt Verdict

A glimpse at India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad is enough to assert that pace bowling is the team's biggest weak link. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, India do not have an in-form pacer for the showpiece event while Hardik Pandya performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 wouldn't give fans much confidence either. While there were a number of top players who couldn't find a place in the team, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels T Natarajan was one star who should've been picked.

In a chat with India Today, Gavaskar lauded the Natarajan's performances in the IPL and said that he could've been in the team.

"I was thinking more like T Natarajan, the left-arm pacer bowler. He has been bowling extremely well. So, I thought maybe he could have been in the team. But that's okay. I think the seam bowlers that they have got, they all have experience. So no problem with that," he said.

While Natarajan's absence was a shock to many, Hardik Pandya's retention as vice-captain of the 15-member squad also left a few baffled. The MI captain has scored 197 runs and taken just four wickets in 10 games with his team languishing in ninth spot.

"There's a big difference playing in the IPL and playing for your country. Playing for your country brings out something different in every player and Hardik Pandya will be a different player," said Gavaskar on Sports Today.

"He's had to face a lot of issues in this particular tournament (IPL), he's handled it quite well. When he goes overseas and has to play for India, I think he will be in a completely different frame of mind.

"And that's going to be a much more positive frame of mind than maybe what we have seen here in this tournament. So, Hardik Pandya will make a contribution with both