Slowly Building Up Hardik For T-20 World Cup Says Paras Mhambrey

Pace bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is gradually regaining fitness, should be able to bowl in the T20 World Cup with the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, which begins next month

Although he bowled in the recent bilateral limited-overs series in Sri Lanka in July, he couldn't complete his full quota in any game. He bowled 14 overs in the three ODIs - two wickets at an average of 48.5 and economy rate of 6.92 - and two overs in one T20I.

Against England in March, he had bowled 17 overs in the five T20 Internationals, picking three wickets and conceding runs at 6.94 an over which was the second best on either side after Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He could complete his four-over quota in three of the five games.

Pandya also bowled in the third and final ODI against England and was quite economical, conceding runs at 5.33 in nine overs. But India will need him to bowl full quota of overs throughout the T20 World Cup.

Mhambrey, the 49-year-old former India pace bowler, said that the Indian Premier League (IPL) will eventually decide Pandya's availability at the T20 World Cup. It will be up to the franchise to decide on how to use him.

"Yes, the way I look at him and the way I feel, I am sure he will bowl [in IPL]. First step is the IPL. Maybe the franchise will decide how will they use him. That, kind of, will decide how it will be preparatory ground for the World Cup."