Teams around the world are preparing for T20 World Cup to be held in India later this year. Meanwhile, Team India's all-rounder Hardik Pandya is upbeat about returning to the field. Pandya has not been bowling regularly after a lower-back issue since the 2019 Asia Cup, but now he wants to make sure to bowl in all the games. The lack of a pace-bowling all-rounder was clearly seen during the ODI and T20 series on the Australia tour. Although Ravindra Jadeja is a spin all-rounder in the team, but in the limited-overs format, India currently does not have any reliable fast-bowling all-rounder.
Pandya said, "For India, I have realised that my bowling brings a lot of difference because the balance changes. In IPL, I am lucky to have a franchise where there is so much love that I was able to pick my batting there and make sure that for India, I am able to be at my best. I have to make sure I am fit to be able to bowl and if I bowl, that brings balance to the side."
Meanwhile, Pandya has been training hard and focusing on ICC T20 World Cup. He said, "For me, I want to make sure, and I will be able to, that I bowl in all the games of the (T20) World Cup. I am just trying to be smart and make sure that I don't miss that and started bowling in the IPL and my focus is on the World Cup. I want to make sure that I will be able to bowl in all the games at the [T20] World Cup and just trying to be smart and make sure that I don't miss that. On the bowling front, what matters is how fit I am. Even after my surgery, I didn't drop my pace. I was not able to drop my control. My bowling is related to my fitness. The fitter I get, the better it comes out. As a fast-bowling allrounder, I tend to get injuries. It is bound to happen and I am okay with it."