All-rounder have been the key for India at the cricket world cup and Kapil Dev and Yuvraj Singh’s heroics is enough to prove the same. Kapil Dev led from the front as the captain of the world cup squad in 1983, whether it was the match changing innings of 175* against Zimbabwe or turning the complexion of the match by his fiery pace bowling which won the maiden world cup for Team India.
After 28 long years, India again won the world cup and the biggest reason was the man of the tournament- Yuvraj Singh who turned it around for India, courtesy of his all round skills. The man from Punjab was the fourth highest run scorer for men in blue with 362 runs in 8 innings at an impressive average of 90.50. He also picked 15 wickets in 9 innings to end up as India’s highest wicket taker after Zaheer Khan(21 wickets).
Coming back to the present days, India is considered as the firm favourites to lift the upcoming world cup and this time they have got the services of Hardik Pandya, who will play the role of an all-rounder in the team.
Yuvraj rates Hardik as an ex-factor
The Junior Pandya notched 402 runs for Mumbai Indians and picked 14 wickets, which became one of the reason’s for the triumph of Rohit Sharma led side in the recently concluded season of IPL. His great run of form in the recent times was enough for Yuvraj Singh to name him as the “X” factor, in India’s world cup squad.
“It’s important that Rohit [Sharma] and Virat [Kohli]… Either of them has a good tournament. But I think the X-factor in this World Cup is going to be Hardik [Pandya],” Yuvraj Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
“He’s(Hardik Pandya) currently on form and batting well. And is someone who’s very helpful with the ball. In those conditions, if we play two fast bowlers and two spinners, you have Hardik as your third seamer. It gives the right balance to the team. [In] the last 10 overs, Hardik is going to be very important. But it’s up to him to adapt from Twenty20 to 50 overs. And it depends on how we use him,” Yuvraj added.
India start their world cup campaign against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton.
