New Delhi: With three wins and a washout, Team India reached the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 unscathed. Despite showing signs of vulnerability in matches against the United States and Pakistan, Team India’s quality took them over the line in both games. India’s top-order failed to fire in the group stage with neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli managing to give India a good start.
But Rishabh Pant’s decent display at number three proved to be a saving grace. The left-handed wicket-keeper batter stitched a match-winning 54-run partnership with skipper Rohit, before playing a vital knock of 42 off 31 balls against Pakistan. His patient knock helped India cross the 100-run mark against the arch-rivals and gave the bowling unit some cushion.
Making his international return after recovering from a life-threatening car accident in 2022, Pant has been superb at the number three spot. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has hailed Pant’s impact.
“Along with him, Rishabh Pant played at number 3. His role was completely changed. Before this World Cup, we were saying that Sanju Samson will play in the team because he has made big runs.
“To make Rishabh Pant play at number three is a big positive. Left-Right combination is formed when Rishabh Pant plays at number three,” Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan hailed India’s overall group stage performance in the T20 World Cup and said Hardik Pandya’s bowling display has been a pleasant surprise.
“The biggest positive is that Hardik Pandya took the wicket. He was the fourth bowler in this tournament. But if you look at his wicket tally, he has done much better than what was expected of him,” Harbhajan said on ‘Star Sports’.
Pandya came into the World Cup after a horrendous run in IPL 2024 but has been superb with the ball. The all-rounder is the leading Indian wicket-taker with seven wickets in three matches.
India’s Super Eight challenge
India open their Super Eight challenge against Afghanistan on June 20, Thursday before facing another Bangladesh on Saturday, June 22. The Men in Blue will then take on reigning ODI World Cup champions Australia on Monday, June 24.
India have entered the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 undefeated. While there have been few negatives and positives for the Men in Blue in group stage, what are the biggest positives? Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
