Is Hardik Pandya’s spot in the Indian T20I playing XI in danger? The current Mumbai Indians skipper could find himself out of the reckoning in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 due to two reasons. One is his performance, and the second is his biggest competitor, Shivam Dube’s excellent run in the IPL 2024 season.
Hardik Pandya no match for Shivam Dube’s swashbuckling brilliance
Hardik is one of the most valuable pace-bowling all-rounders in the world. But off late, he’s not been firing at all cylinders. In the ongoing IPL 2024 season, his batting record looks pale when compared with Shivam Dube. The southpaw has 242 runs and is sixth in the orange cap race. Apart from Rohit Sharma, no one has a higher strike rate (163.51) than Dube this season in the top 10 highest run-getters list. Meanwhile, Hardik has 131 runs to his name while averaging just 26.2 and striking at 145.55.
The MI skipper’s raw numbers look fine, but when looked at closely, they show a different picture. Against the Gujarat Titans, he played a positive 11(4) but followed it with a stinker, 24(20) in a game that saw 523 runs being scored. He then returned to form against the Rajasthan Royals, scoring 34 (21), but slipped back again in the next game, scoring 39 (33). He destroyed the ball against RCB 21(6) but failed once again 2(6).
Dube, on the other hand, has been nothing but consistent. His lowest score has been 18 this season; he’s finished unbeaten twice already and also has two fifties to his name. His game against spin is on another level this season, and he’s hit 15 sixes compared to Pandya’s 6.
T20 World Cup
Hardik edges ahead in bowling
Hardik Pandya has bowled just 11 overs so far. These eleven overs have been spread across four innings, and he’s going at 12 runs per over while averaging 44. His bowling numbers, albeit poor, reflect that he can still bowl a few overs when needed.
As for Shivam Dube, he hasn’t bowled a single ball in the six IPL 2024 matches he’s played. However, earlier in the year, he was in action in Afghanistan and got a chance to show his mettle with the ball in hand. In the three matches he played, he got two wickets at 35 while giving 10 runs per over.
When comparing Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, the right-arm all-rounder will always be the superior fast bowler. He has more pace and has been going against tougher opponents. He has also bowled in the powerplay, middle, and death, while Dube primarily gets an over or two in the middle overs.
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