• Source:JND
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Hardik Pandya has not only kept his place in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad but also gained his vice-captaincy back after an ankle injury forced him out of action in the ODI World Cup last year.

Pandya featured in India's first three matches in the quadrennial event before injuring his ankle against Bangladesh in Pune. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the tournament and the South Africa tour. He also missed the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan earlier this year.

The all-rounder returned to action in the ongoing Indian Premier League with Mumbai Indians. However, his captaincy and bowling remained a debatable topic but India's dearth of pace bowling all-rounder made him an automatic contender in the 15-member squad. He has added 197 runs in 10 games for the franchise and picked only four wickets in limited overs he has bowled.

Pandya faced stiff competition from Chennai Super Kings' in-form all-rounder Shivam Dube, who has been in a purple patch in the season. The lanky batter has amassed 350 runs in nine matches including three half-centuries. His attacking cameo knocks in the middle order have made a lot of difference in CSK's batting strength in the tournament. The left-handed batter has struck the ball at a strike rate of 172.41.

Dube was part of India's playing XI in the last T20I series against Afghanistan. In 21 T20I matches, he accumulated 276 runs at an average of 39.42 with three fifties.

On the bowling front, Dube holds eight international scalps to his name and 45 wickets in T20s. Former India T20I captain is undoubtedly a better and more proven pace bowler than Dube in international cricket. Pandya, who played his last T20I in August, has bagged 73 wickets in 92 T20Is for India. Despite his lacklustre performance in the IPL, the decorated all-rounder has plenty of outings to support his case for the T20 extravaganza in the West Indies and the USA.

With the addition of both Dube and Pandya in the squad, India selectors have kept their answers ready for any adversary during the T20I showpiece.