The 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 was announced by the BCCI on Monday, it was a mixture of some joy and also some questions as fans were not happy with the selected players. Pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel were declared fit and are included in the squad.
The duo was left out from the DP Asia Cup 2022, which was held in UAE, following serious injuries. Their absence was also felt in the team as India lost the Super 4 affairs against Pakistan and Sri Lanka by low narrow margins.
With this team India hopefully will tighten up the bowling, especially in the death overs.
However, a number of fans are not happy with the inclusion. A fan of the Indian team has questioned the move to select Harshal and doubting his ability on Australian soil, which was done in a special Q/A session hosted by Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar. The former India captain was annoyed by the question and also gave a fitting reply to the supporters.
“Aagey jaa kar dekhenge na unki pitai kaise ho sakti hai. Aap ne pehle se hi tay kar diya, pitai hogi kyuki who slow bowling karte hain. Yaar pehle match toh hone do. Uske baad aap bol sakte hain ‘Aisa ho gaya, waisa ho gaya’. “We will see that once the tournament starts. How can you already decide that he will go for runs? You came to a conclusion because he bowls slow. At least let the match happen first. Then sure, you can say that ‘This happened, that happened’,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.
Over the past couple of years, Harshal Patel has proved to be a great death bowler and his heroics in the IPL has also been praised by experts, he was the highest wicket taker in IPL 2021, with equaling Dwayne Bravo’s record of 32 wickets.
If Harshal continues the form, he can be an asset and the biggest trump card for India at the World Cup.
