as a team India Set to face South Africa in the T20Is at home, the focus will be on Hardik Pandya who returns to the team after a gap of 6 months. The all-rounder had a remarkable season in the Indian Premier League (2022), leading his team Gujarat Titans to their first title. Also, he silenced his critics with a stellar batting performance in the tournament.
before the start of IPL In 2022, a lot of fingers were raised regarding his fitness. Also, there were doubts over his bowling fitness as well as captaincy skills, given that he had previously only led in senior cricket once.
However, the 28-year-old put an end to all such doubts with his valor. Pandya played 15 matches and scored 487 runs at an average of 44.27, including four half-centuries. He also took 8 wickets in the tournament and took 3 wickets for 17 runs.
Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Kiran More was impressed with Pandya’s return to form. Speaking in the SG podcast, the former India selector was of the opinion that the Baroda all-rounder has now become a ‘four-dimensional’ cricketer.
“The best moment for me in IPL 15 was the way Gujarat Titans played cricket. It was outstanding. And especially with Hardik becoming the captain and lifting the trophy, his individual performance was equally brilliant. Going from Mumbai Indians to Gujarat Titans; It is not that easy to lead a new team and win the championship straight away,” Kieran More told the SG podcast.
More, who had seen Pandya closely at the MI camp, recalled the younger days of the latter and talked about the ‘hunger for cricket’ in his eyes.
“He wanted to play the game. Krunal Pandya (his elder brother) had joined my academy and Hardik used to roam around. He used to run behind the nets and catch the ball. That’s when I told Kunal to bring him to the nets too. And then I saw hunger in his eyes.
“For me, Hardik was a little kid who wanted to perform all the time. Now I believe he is now a four-pronged player. Earlier he was a three-dimensional player as he is a bowler, batsman and a fielder but now he is also a captain. So, you feel proud that you have such a talented cricketer in the national team,” said More.
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