“When it comes to T20 World Cups and marquee events, you back the players who excel on the big stage. For me, it will always be Hardik Pandya or Rishabh Pant ahead of people like Shivam Dube until we see Shivam Dube perform on the big stage.”

The Rohit Sharma-led team is set to play a warm-up match against India on Saturday, June 1, at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

Manjrekar noted Hardik’s struggles in IPL 2024 but highlighted his previous successes in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He favored Hardik and Rishabh Pant over Shivam Dube for their ability to perform on larger stages.

Hardik is eager to return to the field in an Indian jersey after a nine-month break due to an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh on October 19. He made his comeback as captain of the Mumbai franchise in IPL 2024, where he faced a hostile reception from fans and managed only 216 runs and 11 wickets in 14 games. Under his leadership, Mumbai finished last and was the first team eliminated from the playoff race.

Also Read: Australian Legend Adam Gilchrist Picks 2 Teams That Will Cause Upsets In T20 World Cup 2024