NEWS
Follow UsThe 2022 T20 World Cup ended on a horrible note for India and stand-in T20I skipper Hardik Pandya has made it clear that the focus will now shift to the next T20 World Cup, with many players set to be given chances to stake their claim in the side. India's 2022 T20 World Cup hopes ended with an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat against eventual champions England in the semifinals.
The ace allrounder, who smoked 63 off 33 deliveries in the semi-final and had a decent campaign, is set to lead India in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand. "Yes, we all know there is disappointment of the World Cup but we are professionals and we need to cope with it. How we cope with our success, we cope up with our failures and move forward and look forward to getting better and rectifying our mistakes," said Pandya ahead of the first T20I, which will be played in Wellington on Friday (November 18).
"Yes, the next T20 WC is almost two years so we have time (to unearth new talent). A lot of cricket will be played and a lot of people will get enough chances. The road map starts from now. But it's too fresh right now. We have a lot of time so we will sit down and have conversations on those grounds. Right now it's making sure that the boys enjoy playing here. We will talk about the future later."
The next edition of the T20 World Cup will be played in 2024 in the West Indies and the United States and you would expect India to make quite a few changes after yet another disappointing World Cup campaign.
The Men in Blue will be without the likes of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel and R Ashwin during the New Zealand series. In their absence, young players like Shubman Gill, Umran Malik, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have been given a chance and Pandya says it will be an important series for them in the grand scheme of things.
"The main boys are not here but the same time the talent which the guys who are already here, they have also been playing for one-and-a-half, two years now. They have had ample chances and enough time in international cricket to express themselves and show what they have. Very excited for them, new bunch of guys, new energy and excitement," said Pandya.
"Every series is important. You can't play an international game thinking it's not important. Yes, World Cup is there but that's a different format, it's 50 overs. But it is an important series for a lot of boys who if they eventually do well here will be able to put a strong case going forward."
India have been extremely consistent in these bilateral series but have struggled in ICC events since 2013. Former England captain Michael Vaughan recently said that India have been the most under-performing white-ball team in history but Pandya feels his team doesn't need to prove anything.
"I don't think we need to prove anything to anyone. Obviously, when you don't do well, people will have their opinion, which we respect. I understand people have different point of views," Pandya said.
"Being at the international level, I don't think we need to prove anything to anyone. It's a sport, you keep trying to get better and eventually when the result is supposed to happen it will happen. There are things we need to work on, going forward we will rectify and work on it."
(With inputs from PTI)
