With this form, Hardik Pandya won't be picked in the T20 World Cup 2024: Manoj Tiwary

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to name India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 by the end of April. Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary backed Shivam Dube to make it to the side, ahead of Hardik Pandya.

Tiwary said that Hardik needs to bowl more often in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 if he wants to secure his spot in India's T20 World Cup squad. The Mumbai Indians skipper has bowled only a solitary over in the last three matches in IPL 2024. The former Bengal captain also highlighted that Hardik has leaked runs at over 11 runs per over this season.

"If he wants to play in the Indian T20 World Cup team as an all-rounder, he has to bowl. Look at his economy rate. It's almost 11. He is not performing this season," Tiwary said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.

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Tiwary stated that BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar is a strong character and if Hardik does not return to form, then Agarkar will not pick him in the T20 World Cup squad. Tiwary named all-rounder Shivam Dube as the potential replacement for Hardik, however, he said that if the southpaw does not get selected, it will be because Chennai Super Kings are not giving him the opportunity to bowl during IPL 2024.

"With this form, Hardik won't be picked in the T20 World Cup. See, Agarkar is a strong character and hence can take those bold decisions. And if Dube is not picked in the T20 World Cup, CSK will be responsible for it, because they are not allowing him to bowl. I have been saying this for a long time, if you want a replacement for Hardik, get Dube ready," he added.

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Shivam Dube is a clever bowler: Manoj Tiwary

Tiwary could not understand why Dube and Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer are not used too much with the ball. The Howrah-born recalled Dube's bowling performance in the Afghanistan series and said that he is a "clever" bowler.

"At one time we also had Venkatesh Iyer. Suddenly, both of them stopped bowling. We should be looking at the bigger goal. We are talking about the World Cup here and India haven't been able to lift that trophy for a long time. So, we have to plan for that ahead of time. Now Hardik is not in form and if you pick Dube in the squad, how much he can perform as a bowler is not known. But as far as I know, Dube is a clever bowler. Remember that T20I series at home against Afghanistan," he further explained.