'If I come back, I will do that otherwise I won't': Hardik underlines demand to Team India

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya might turn out to be an x-factor for the Indian cricket team if they want to bring the ODI World Cup home after 12 years. However, this will totally depend on how much the all-rounder contributes to the team with his bowling in the ODI format. Team India begins its World Cup 2023 campaign against Australia on October 8, 2023. 

3 things you need to know 

• Hardik Pandya has been one of the key players for the Indian cricket team in the ODI format
• Pandya is also seen leading Team India in the T20I format in the absence of Rohit Sharma 
• However, Pandya has contributed to the team's performance with the bat rather than with the ball

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Hardik Pandya opens up on his demand with Team India 

(Hardik Pandya celebrates with Suryakumar Yadav during the first IND vs WI 2023 ODI / Image: AP) 

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya while talking to Jio Cinema ahead of the first IND vs WI ODI opened up on the demand that he made to the team regarding his bowling in ODI cricket. Pandya said:

I went back and I was just spending time with myself. I had to figure out that what exactly is it that I am aspiring to be. For my bowling, I told the guys in the Indian team that if I come back, I will do so as an all-rounder otherwise I won't. And I was fine with it because that was the challenge thrown at me. To be honest, I was very happy with that fact that if I don't play, I was ok. 

Hardik Pandya's role in the 2023 ODI World Cup 

Hardik Pandya was a genuine third-seam bowling option for the Indian cricket team in the 2019 ODI World Cup and bowled with Bhuvneswar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. However, his pace and the quota of overs both have decreased in the ODI format following his surgery and his role in the middle order will be more important eyeing the absence of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Hardik Pandya has finished a lot of games for the Indian cricket team with the bat and the most famous knock that he played was against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022. 

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With big global events like the Asia Cup 2023 and ICC ODI World Cup 2023 coming up, Hardik will prove to be a great matchwinner for the Indian cricket team.