Waqar Younis, Sanjay Manjrekar get into debate while comparing Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja to Yuvraj Singh

Sanjay Manjrekar and Waqar Younis. (Photo Source: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images and Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

India managed to win the 2011 ODI World Cup on the back of some sensational contributions from all the players. However, Yuvraj Singh played the biggest role with his all-round exploits, scoring 362 runs and bagging 15 wickets. The southpaw was awarded Player of the Series for his phenomenal performance.

As India are set to begin another World Cup campaign next month, fans are wondering who would be able to play Yuvraj’s role. Legendary Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis believes that Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja could fit the bill and mentioned reasons for the same.

“Look at what Hardik and Jadeja bring to the table. They are well equipped with both bat and ball. Especially Hardik Pandya – the way he batted against Pakistan – I think he is a really destructive batter at No. 6. Any team would love to have someone like him. He is aggressive, and now as we saw in the previous match, he is very sensible and smart,” Waqar told the host broadcaster during the Asia Cup 2023 encounter between India and Pakistan.

Waqar was referring to the Group A encounter between India and Pakistan when Hardik came in to bat with the score at 66/4 and bailed the ‘Men in Blue’ out with an 87-run knock off 90 balls.

“I feel that these 2 at No. 6 and 7 will give India that push. All they want to do is not lose early wickets. If you give these 2 last 10 overs, they can chase the game pretty quickly,” Waqar added.

Yuvraj was in a different league: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Hardik and Jadeja but mentioned that Yuvraj was in a different league altogether. Manjrekar’s concern with Hardik is the fact that the Baroda cricketer might not be able to bowl 10 overs in every match.

“Yuvraj is arguably India’s best white-ball batter. He could win games and was in a different league. Hardik and Jadeja, with due respect, aren’t quite there. These 2 are far better bowlers than Yuvraj Singh but because that one discipline was so discipled…” said Manjrekar, before the former Pakistan captain cut him off. “Not even Hardik Pandya? With the kind of batting that he has shown? I am not comparing them but the intention is there,” said Waqar.

To this, Manjrekar replied: “He has the potential but when I see him at this stage, it’s not a guarantee that he will come and bowl all 10 overs like one of the mainstream bowlers. I see him as more of a batting all-rounder and he batted really well in the last game. So yes, they have this combined skill to make the kind of contribution made but one discipline of Yuvraj Singh, like I said, was at a different level. In pitches that help Jadeja the bowler, his batting will come through but Hardik the batter doesn’t need a bad ball or loose ball to decide that this needs to go.”