Hardik Pandya eyes bowling at full tilt in T20 World Cup

NEW DELHI: All-rounder Hardik Pandya has said that he is looking forward to bowling in every match of the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in October-November this year.

The pace bowler could not make it to the India squad for the Test tour of England since he is unable to bowl long spells due to a persistent back injury but was picked for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka which takes place next month.

"I started bowling in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and my focus is on the World Cup. I want to make sure that I will be able to bowl in all the games at the T20 World Cup. I am just trying to be smart and make sure that I don't miss that. On the bowling front, what matters is how fit I am," Pandya told .

"Even after my surgery, I didn't drop my pace. I was not able to drop my control. My bowling is related to my fitness. The fitter I get, the better it comes out. As a fast-bowling all-rounder, I tend to get injuries. It is bound to happen and I am okay with it."

Pandya had, in the past, expressed willingness to play only as a batsman in the Test side. But skipper Virat Kohli has said that Pandya can make it to the India Test team only as an all-rounder.

Kohli, however, hasn't been averse to playing him only as a batsman in the limited-overs team.

"For India, I have realised that my bowling brings a lot of difference because the balance changes," said Pandya, who did not bowl even a single over for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the suspended IPL 2021.

"I have to make sure I am fit to be able to bowl and if I bowl, that brings balance to the side.

"Whenever I play, I don't want to play at 50%. When I play, I will play at 100%," he added. IANS

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