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India is a pacer short heading into the T20 World Cup

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India is a pacer short heading into the T20 World Cup this month, feels former chairman of selectors MSK Prasad, who is also a bit concerned about all-rounder Hardik Pandya not bowling in the ongoing IPL.

The T20 World Cup gets underway from October 17 in the UAE and Oman with India among favourites to clinch the title.
The Virat Kohli-led India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24.

Baroda all-rounder Pandya, a key member of the team, has not been bowling for five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians in the current UAE leg of the cash-rich league. The franchise has said repeatedly that it does not want to push him too hard keeping in mind his importance to the Indian team.

Asked about his take on the situation, Prasad said, “See, Hardik has been picked as an all-rounder, not as a batsman, he is seen an all-rounder, who will add that what you call balance to the side.

“…(it is) a little surprising that, or I don’t know whether he is being instructed, not to bowl or he is being preserved to bowl only in the World Cup,” he wondered.

“We don’t exactly know, but in an ideal scenario, Hardik has been picked as an all-rounder, I would love to see him bowling.

“I don’t know what exactly is the thought process because selectors must be knowing it, or the Board must be knowing it, but Hardik, if he doesn’t bowl then there will be little, I mean, the balance of the side will get a little affected,” said Prasad, who played 6 Tests and 17 ODIs.

The former India stumper also backed Kohli’s decision to step down as the T20 skipper after the World Cup.

“…he has taken strain of captaincy across all formats, which is clearly visible right now on his individual performances. So, I think (it) must be a right decision to take,” said Prasad when asked how this decision of Virat would help the batsman in him.

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