The return of Hardik Pandya will make a huge difference to the Indian team: Virender Sehwag

World Cricket has taken a big hit at the moment due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and tournaments all over have been affected by this. IPL has been rescheduled, many bilateral series have been called off and the ones coming also are in the dark about their future.

But, bringing joy on the faces of the fans, who are eagerly waiting to see more cricket, the International Cricket Council and Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced that the 2020 edition of the ICC World T20 will be taking place as per its original schedule.

When this news came out, the now-retired member of the Indian team that won the inaugural edition of the ICC World T20, in 2007, Virender Sehwag was asked to pick his favourite team to win the tournament this season. And, he in his typical no-nonsense fashion, picked his favourite team.

‘In T20s, one cannot predict favourites,’ told Virender Sehwag

He named Team India to be the strongest contender in the race to get to the top and also gave a reason behind the same. And, that was the presence of Hardik Pandya in the team. He made it clear that given the unpredictability of a format like T20 cricket, it was really hard to pick a winner, but according to him, the Indian team does hold an edge over the other teams, when it comes to winning the tournament.

“In T20s, one cannot predict favourites. Such is the unpredictable nature of the format, any single player can change the complexion of the game on a given day…  The return of Hardik Pandya will make a huge difference to the Indian team. The whole combination will change with an all-rounder of the calibre of Hardik,” Sehwag said as quoted by TOI.

The tournament is all set to begin on the 24th of October this year, with the first match being played between Pakistan and Australia, followed by a match between India and South Africa later on the same day. Team India, led by Virat Kohli, who is yet to win an ICC Trophy for India, will be putting in their best to get their hands on the cup and bring it back home, after 13 years.