T20 World Cup 2024 | "...he will be a different Hardik Pandya": Harbhajan backs Pandya ahead of the showpiece

Harbhajan Singh (Pic: File Pic)

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has empathy toward Hardik Pandya as the all-rounder is going through a tough phase in his career.

Hardik Pandya had an unforgettable IPL 2024 season both as captain and player. Mumbai Indians appointed him as captain by replacing Rohit Sharma. Following the controversy, the all-rounder has faced continuous boos in all the stadiums including MI's home ground Wankhede.

"When he wears that blue jersey, he will be a different Hardik Pandya because we know he can score those runs and take those wickets. I want Hardik to come good as he has gone through a lot and I wish him all the very best to have a very good tournament for India," Harbhajan told PTI in an exclusive interview.

"If he has a good tournament, obviously India will have a great chance to go forward," he said. "Yes, his form is a bit of a concern...and a lot of other stuff was going on around him, his shifting from Gujarat to Mumbai, was a big change and the team (MI) didn't react too well to Hardik coming back and that too as captain," the 43-year-old added.

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During the Indian showpiece, there were rumours that the dressing room of the Mumbai-based franchise was a divided room due to the captaincy controversy. Rohit Sharma is set to captain the Indian team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 with Hardik Pandya appointed as his deputy.

Harbhajan, a multi-format World Cup winner, urged the team management to bring Pandya and Rohit on the "same page". "...it looked like they (MI) were not playing together as a team. So there was a lot going on. Hardik wasn't a free man in the last two months. I believe both of them and many others who have played in different teams will have to come together to do something special for the nation...," he said.

"Winning a World Cup is a bigger achievement than winning an IPL trophy, so I would urge the management to bring everyone together, have them on one page and make sure they play like one.

"I believe it's the responsibility of the management to come together, and win together. Even if they lose they should be losing together."

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, Team India has named three pacers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. Among these, Harbhajan Singh feels that only Bumrah is such a bowler who doesn't need any specific conditions to be successful.

"Pace attack definitely could be a concern because because Bumrah is in a different league for the kind of bowler he is. He will win you games on any kind of pitch. He doesn't need conditions whereas other bowlers like Arshdeep and Siraj would need help from conditions. "If there's bounce, Siraj might do well. He is tall, can also swing it both ways, hits the deck hard and has got pace. But if wickets are slow then the challenge begins for other bowlers.

"There will be lot of responsibility on Bumrah's shoulders but I hope other guys also take responsibility to be someone special."

Harbhajan said IPL form would make no difference to the players' fortunes in the T20 World Cup 2024. "No matter what you have done in your IPL career or previously, this is what counts the most...if I was in their shoes, I would be looking for this opportunity to showcase that I have been better than what I have been doing," the 'Turbanator' stated.

Virat Kohli ended his IPL 2024 campaign as the highest run-scorer in the tournament. Harbhajan praised the veteran for the way he played in IPL 2024 and also for improving his strike rate. "Virat has shown a lot of improvement from last year to this year and people spoke about his strike rate. It was in 130s during last year and this time it is in 160s," he said.

"Of course it's a big big change. Virat and Rohit will have to score quickly in Powerplay but also need to respect the conditions in USA and West Indies."

Harbhajan doesn't know whether Gautam Gambhir, who is being spoken of as the favourite to take over India's head coach position from the outgoing Rahul Dravid, will get the job but he does believe it would be a crown of thorns for whoever chooses to wear it. "If I say it properly, it is a speculation, which is doing rounds...the biggest thing a coach can do is to bring everyone together, so that team plays together. So, whether Gautam becomes coach or Ashish Nehra, or whosoever gets the opportunity, hope they do better than what others before them did."

He also ruled himself out of the race. "I don't think I will be able to give that much time. At this stage of my life I have a young family and I need to be around them and look after them. Yes, when the right time comes, I will put my foot forward and say I am ready for it," he concluded.

(With PTI Inputs)