Hardik, the captain of Mumbai Indians in the 2024 IPL, staged a comeback to cricket after a five-month ankle injury layoff. The pace all-rounder, who has also suffered back issues, had injured his ankle during the ODI World Cup last year and was sidelined till March.

Hardik took the new ball and bowled the first over against Gujarat Titans in his first professional game since the injury, bowling three overs for 30 runs. He completed his four overs in the next match, against Sunrisers Hyderabad but did not send down a single delivery in his next two games. He bowled just one over against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday (April 11), coming in as the side’s seventh bowler.

Simon Doull highlighted Hardik’s reduced bowling workload and said it indicated he was injured. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Doull said: “You go out and make a statement by opening the bowling in-game no. 1, and suddenly, you are not required. He’s injured. I’m telling you there is something wrong with him. He is not admitting it. But there is something wrong with him for sure. That is my gut feeling.”

Harsha Bhogle, who was alongside Doull, wondered if Hardik would still be in contention to make the squad for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in June if he is not fit enough to bowl. Hardik has a batting strike rate of 134.44 since the start of 2021 at an average of 30.58. He is expected to be a finisher for the side but his waning power-hitting skills have been evident of late, which makes him doubtful for the tournament if he plays as a pure batter.

“If Hardik is not bowling, does Hardik make the T20 WC squad?” Said Bhogle. “Is he among the top six batters in India if he is not bowling? I’m not totally convinced of that because if he is not bowling and he is not finishing as powerfully, he needs to bat up, where all the competition is. So, for Hardik to go into the T20 WC, he has to be able to bowl four overs. I won’t be surprised if, coming out of that back injury, he is feeling a little ginger.”

Hardik the all-rounder is crucial to balance out India’s XI, especially with none of their top six batters bowling regularly. He not only provides an additional bowling option to the side but ensures India have at least two all-rounders, with Ravindra Jadeja also around.