NEW DELHI: India all-rounder and vice-captain Hardik Pandya has been in the spotlight recently due to speculation surrounding his personal life and professional challenges. During the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Pandya faced significant hurdles. He took over the captaincy of the Mumbai Indians (MI) from Team India skipper Rohit Sharma before the start of the IPL.
This decision was not well-received by MI fans, leading to Pandya being booed multiple times during the tournament. Under his leadership, the five-time champions failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished last in the 10-team league stage.
Amidst this scrutiny, Pandya posted pictures from Team India’s first training session in New York for the upcoming T20 World Cup, captioning them with a three-word announcement: “On national duty.” This post indicates that Pandya has joined his teammates in New York and is prepared for the mega event, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.
The Indian cricket team has commenced their preparations in New York for the ICC 2024 T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on June 2. The first group of Indian cricketers, including captain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and head coach Rahul Dravid, arrived a few days earlier and have started their training sessions.
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah shared pictures on social media of the cricketers jogging and training, showcasing the team’s early efforts to reach peak condition. Suryakumar Yadav also posted images from their initial training sessions.
The Men in Blue are placed in Group A, alongside arch-rivals Pakistan, co-hosts USA, Ireland, and Canada. They will kick off their World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on June 5. Before the main event, the Indian team will play a warm-up game against Bangladesh on June 1.
India’s only T20 World Cup victory came in 2007 under the leadership of MS Dhoni, when they defeated Pakistan in the final in Johannesburg, South Africa. The current squad is eager to replicate that success and bring the trophy home once again.
