Hardik Pandya was widely praised by Aakash Chopra for his significant contribution to India’s 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in the recently ended Twenty20 International Series.
Hardik’s contributions with the bat and the ball earned him the Player of the Series honour. During the series, he also fielded brilliantly and silenced the detractors who continued to doubt his fitness. With 118 runs from three appearances, the Baroda all-rounder finished as the series’ second-highest run scorer, demonstrating his brilliant batting form. He scored his runs at an incredible strike rate of 222.64 and averaged an incredible 59.
According to Chopra, the 31-year-old persisted throughout a difficult period in his life. The former Indian cricket player praised Hardik’s series performance, highlighting how easily he handled the bowlers from Bangladesh.
“The Player of the Series award went to Hardik Pandya. In both his personal and professional life, he has experienced several low points, including being jeered. He has batted a few balls in each of the three games, but his strike rate has always been over 200. On his YouTube channel, Chopra stated, “I thought he was absolutely sensational.”
His style is distinct. It was comparable to hooliganism. He smashed a no-look one-handed six on the leg side and a six over cover. He’s batting in a new way. He went on to say, “It was almost like insulting the bowlers, as though they have no status at all.”
The 2024 T20I cricket performance of Hardik Pandya
Following an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup 2023, Hardik made a comeback to competitive cricket earlier this year during the Indian Premier League (IPL). After two years with the Gujarat Titans, he rejoined the Mumbai Indians, taking Rohit Sharma’s place as the team’s five-time IPL champion captain. Fans weren’t pleased with his appointment, either, as he received jeers during games and was harassed on social media. His own performances fell far short of expectations, and Mumbai ended the season as the worst team.
Nonetheless, the BCCI selectors selected him for India’s 15-man roster for the 2024 T20 World Cup because they believed in his ability. The all-around efforts of the Choryasi-born player were essential to India’s victory in the main event, thus he did not let anyone down.
Hardik has amassed 293 runs from 11 innings in 2024 at a strike rate of 155.44 and an average of 48.83. In addition, he has taken 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.23 and an average of 22.35.
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India will play South Africa in a four-match series in the Rainbow Nation in November for their next Twenty20 International assignment. During the well-known series, Hardik will be hoping to keep his purple patch going.