Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul were ordered to return from Australia after their comments on Kofee with Karan sparked an outrage on social media. The duo, who were suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from playing any form of cricket, drew flak from all quarters for their comments about women. The BCCI has also set up an inquiry against Pandya and Rahul. However S Sreesanth feels that Indian cricket needs both of them as the duo are match-winners and will be crucial in the upcoming World Cup 2019.
“I will only say that whatever happened was very bad, but the World Cup is around the corner. Both Hardik and Rahul are both good cricketers…,” Sreesanth told reporters.
“I will only say to Hardik and Rahul, that surely they are both match-winners and sooner or later they will be back on the field. Yes, I know how difficult it is for a cricketer to miss the game and I just hope BCCI allows them to play, once they realise I am sure they should be playing where they should be playing,” the former India pace bowler added.
Hardik and Rahul have been replaced by Vijay Shankar and young Shubman Gill for the two contests. Sreesanth reckons that there are cricketers who have done worse things that the two and have luckily gotten away without any punishment.
“Yes, what happened was wrong. They said some wrong things. But there are others whose have made bigger mistakes than these, who are still playing and are in different fields not just cricket. The same people are speaking about this. When they see an opportunity they pounce on it like tigers,” Sreesanth said.
Sreesanth himself is under a life-long ban from cricket by BCCI for a spot-fixing scandal in 2013, but still has hope left in him that someday it would be lifted.
“On top of that, if my ban gets lifted this month or next month, then I will be the happiest…,” said the cricketer who has chalked out the plans thereafter – try himself in Ranji matches before fighting for a spot in the Indian team.
