The powerful hitting and brisk seam bowling of Hardik Pandya caught everyone’s eyes in the Indian Premier League. The Baroda all-rounder went back to the domestic circuit and strung together a series of consistent performances that did not go unnoticed by the selectors.
The 23-year-old earned his maiden call-up to the Indian squad for the T20Is against Australia in January last year and the Indian team backed the all-rounder to come good in the world T20 at home.
In the first ODI of the current India-England series, Pandya picked up two wickets at an economy of 5 with the ball, when the opposition mustered 350 runs. The Baroda all-rounder came into bat at a nervy time for India but his cool 37-ball 40 guided India towards a comfortable victory at the end.
Here are 5 reasons why we should be excited about Hardik Pandya:
#1 Flair and Swag
Pandya has a sense of flair and swag about him. His confidence, fearlessness, and exuberance on the field is something that augurs well for the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli. The youngster does not shy away from displaying his emotions on the field.
When on the field, one gets a sense of boldness in his character that signifies that he is not intimidated by even the best of oppositions.
The all-rounder has the uncanny ability of picking up wickets in the unlikeliest of times. Pandya got the England captain Eoin Morgan when he looked set to cut loose. He then claimed the prized wicket of dangerous Jos Buttler when he was looking to loft the bowler all over the ground.
Eventually, the two wickets pegged England back somewhat and delayed the acceleration towards the end of their innings.
#2 Does not seem fazed by the occasion
In the ICC World T20, when India were on the verge of crashing out against Bangladesh, who needed just 2 runs off 3 deliveries, Pandya scalped 2 wickets in the next 2 balls to turn the match on its head.
In the first ODI of the current series, with Virat Kohli just dismissed and Kedar Jadhav cramping at the other end, it was not an easy situation for a batsman to walk in. In spite of Jadhav’s wicket and a brain fade moment from Ravindra Jadeja, Pandya was as cool as a cucumber and knew exactly what to do.
To perform for the country when it matters the most is an important trait in a player’s ability. Two incidents of Pandya emerging as a victor in pressure cooker situations in his short career so far, shows that the Baroda all-rounder is not overawed by crunch situations.
#3 At just 23, he has age on his side
Pandya has already shown a lot of composure for a 23-year-old player. Ricky Ponting (former Mumbai Indians head coach) also heaped praise on the young player’s attitude towards the game.
The 23-year-old has left an indelible impression on the Indian fans. With Pandya being so young, it makes all the more sense to invest in his talent. If the persistence in the youngster’s abilities pays off, his all-round abilities could serve Indian cricket for many years to come.
#4 A fast-bowling all-rounder
India have traditionally struggled overseas due to the lack of a world-class fast-bowling all-rounder in their ranks. Since the retirement of Kapil Dev, India have frantically searched for a quality replacement over the years. But the dearth of options to fill the all-rounder’s shoes has come to haunt India time and again.
India has produced some world class spinning all-rounders but their bowling is rendered almost useless on foreign soil. A quality fast-bowling all-rounder lends the perfect balance to the team’s composition.
Pandya has shown the potential to be a genuine fast bowler with his delivery speeds around 140 kph mark. When batting, the Baroda all-rounder can smack the ball hard to all parts of the ground and has shown the maturity to bat with a sense of calmness when the situation demands so. Pandya, if handled well, could turn out to be a long-term solution for India’s problems overseas.
#5 A good fielder
A player can have a bad day on the field with the bat and ball. But any player can have a significant impact on the match by producing a moment of brilliance while fielding. Taking an outstanding catch, stopping the batsmen from converting 2s into 3s, and showing agility on the field to produce a run-out have become important benchmarks against which a player is evaluated.
Pandya does not have fears of throwing himself around in the field. The Indian all-rounder has exhibited his athleticism on the field on more than one occasion.
Pandya’s acrobatic skills while fielding makes him a complete all-rounder in its true sense.
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