Under-fire Hardik Pandya was a vital element of India's Twenty20 World Cup campaign, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said Thursday, defending the star all-rounder's inclusion after a patchy IPL season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pandya was named as vice-captain earlier this week for next month's showpiece 20-over tournament, jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies, with veteran Rohit Sharma leading the squad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He replaced Rohit as captain of Mumbai Indians in this year's Indian Premier League but has been relentlessly booed by crowds after failing to match the form of his popular successor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He's come after a long-ish layoff... The hope is that he keeps building on that form," Agarkar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We know what he brings, how much balance he gives to the team. I don't think there's a replacement for the things that he can do as a cricketer at the moment, especially when it comes to the way he bowls," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It will give Rohit options to play different combinations."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tournament will mark the return of wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for his first international matches since a horror car crash 16 months ago, after impressing with his reinstatement as Delhi Capitals captain in the IPL.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fellow wicketkeeper K.L. Rahul was left out to make way for Pant, with Agarkar stressing the need for the squad to retain more middle-order batting options.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"K.L. is a terrific player. We all know that. The thing we are obviously looking at is guys who bat in the middle," Agarkar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the moment, K.L. is batting at the top... Rishabh is batting at five for Delhi," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That was more the thinking. It wasn't whether K.L. is better or these guys are better. It's about the slots that we needed."<\/p>\r\n\r\n