IND vs SA 2022: Hardik Pandya will be looking forward to the big World Cup – Zaheer Khan

After leading Gujarat Titans to triumph in the recently concluded Tata Indian Premier League 2022, Hardik Pandya said he wants to win World Cup for India. Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who observed Pandya from close quarters when he played for Mumbai Indians, said the all-rounder will be looking forward to the big World Cup.

Khan has picked Hardik Pandya as the player to look out for in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa. Pandya has been in fine form and he will look to deliver the goods for the national team.

Pandya amassed 487 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 44.27 and scored his runs at a strike rate of 131.27 in Tata IPL 2022 and thus played a huge role in the success of his team.

Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz: “The key player from India for sure, only player comes to mind and that is Hardik Pandya. He’s had a good run in the IPL and is coming off a high from those performances and the leadership qualities which he has shown. I’m sure he will be looking forward to the big World Cup later this year.”

Pandya will be returning to play for the national team after the T20 World Cup in 2021 and he will look to grab his opportunities.

On the other hand, a lot of young players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, and Arshdeep Singh have been picked on the basis of their IPL performances and they will be looking to take their chances. Khan, who was part of India’s World Cup triumph in 2011, said a lot of players will want to be on that flight to Australia for the T20 World Cup.

Zaheer Khan said: “International cricket is back, that is something which is exciting. Now the whole focus is going to be on what happens in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. I’m really looking forward to it as well.”

“The players who are going to get the opportunity, they must be thinking along those lines as well. They must be thinking ‘I want to be there on that flight to Australia'”

The first T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Thursday.