Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull believes all-rounder Hardik Pandya can be India’s greatest guess on the dying overs apart from Jasprit Bumrah within the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. Hardik performed an enormous position in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph within the West Indies and the USA.
Within the ultimate in opposition to South Africa, the veteran bowled the essential seventeenth and twentieth overs and dismissed the well-set Heinrich Klaasen. But, Arshdeep Singh quietly bowled a superb nineteenth over within the contest and likewise completed because the event’s main wicket-taker.
The left-arm pacer can also be India’s all-time chief in T20I wickets with 111 scalps in 73 outings.
When requested about India’s greatest guess within the dying overs other than Bumrah, Doull stated on Star Sports activities:
“One of many largest X-factors in the long run may very well be Hardik Pandya. Cutters into the floor, he has actually perfected that artwork.”
Hardik is one in every of India’s most achieved T20I bowlers with 102 wickets at a median of below 27 in 125 video games.
In the meantime, Simon Doull backed Shreyas Iyer to be India’s No.3 for the T20 World Cup if Tilak Varma would not get well in time from his damage.
“Shreyas Iyer. Center-order participant, performs spin rather well. Would not give you that little little bit of bowling that Tilak may give you, however he matches the mildew brilliantly,” he stated.
Iyer has been drafted into the Indian squad for Tilak within the ongoing T20I sequence in opposition to New Zealand. Nevertheless, Ishan Kishan performed the opening sport at No.3, with Iyer warming the bench.
Simon Doull picks the perfect batting place for Suryakumar Yadav
Simon Doull suggested Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav to bat at No.3 within the 2026 T20 World Cup. The precise-hander has been alternating between No.3 and 4 since Tilak Varma’s emergence in T20Is over the previous 12 months.
Surya averages nearly 33 at a strike fee of 159.40 at one-drop in 31 T20I innings, however averages an excellent higher 37.53 at a strike fee of over 165 in 53 innings at No.4.
Lastly, Doull backed Sanju Samson to be Abhishek Sharma’s opening accomplice within the World Cup over the opposite wicket-keeping opener, Ishan Kishan. Within the opening T20I in opposition to the Kiwis, India went with Doull’s most popular choice. Nevertheless, Samson couldn’t capitalize, falling for less than 10.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
