Zaheer Khan Urges Hardik Pandya to Ignore Criticism, Focus on Performances

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has urged Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya to ignore the criticism he has faced from fans and let his performances speak for themselves. Khan believes that Pandya's struggles are a reflection of the evolving nature of franchise cricket, where fans are more vocal in expressing their opinions.

"When the individual represents the country, it will again go back to the normal," said Khan. "Every athlete should understand that it's ultimately the trophies you win, the performances you put out, putting your body on the line, showing dedication, determination, and you will be able to win their hearts."

Khan also discussed the upcoming T20 World Cup and expressed his confidence in Rishabh Pant's selection. "I'm happy with how he is progressing," said Khan. "He has quickly got into the groove and has shown that he hasn't lost his touch."

Regarding the Indian bowling attack, Khan believes that Mohammed Siraj should be included in the World Cup squad alongside Jasprit Bumrah, despite his recent struggles in the IPL. He also praised Arshdeep Singh's performances and acknowledged the potential of other left-arm pacers like Mohsin Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, and Yash Dayal.

Khan also commented on the impact of the 'Impact Player' rule on the development of Indian allrounders. He agrees with Rohit Sharma's concerns that the rule may hinder the progress of players who can contribute with both bat and ball.

"It will affect the find or the progress when you are looking at the half allrounders," said Khan. "You can have a specialist bowler to create that balance."

Khan emphasized the importance of valuing the ability to bowl quickly and urged young pacers like Mayank Yadav and Umran Malik to work on their overall skills to sustain their success.

Tags: #HardikPandya, #MumbaiIndians, #ZaheerKhan, #T20WorldCup, #RishabhPant