India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been given helpful advice by legendary Kapil Dev that he needs to look after himself as if he gets injured, it affects the whole Indian team. Kapil was also all praiseful for his performance against Pakistan in the recent Asia Cup 2022 tie in Dubai.
India won their Asia Cup 2022 campaign opener against Pakistan on Sunday by five wickets. Hardik Pandya was the ‘Man of the Match’ for his match-winning 33* in 17 balls and a brilliant spell of 3/25, which saw him capture key scalps of Mohammed Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Khushdil Shah.
The all-rounder returned with full fitness in 2022 after taking a sabbatical to achieve full fitness after the T20 World Cup 2021 debacle in which he was unable to bowl due to his back issues. He came back in full avatar in IPL 2022 where he captained Gujarat Titans to their maiden India Premier League (IPL) title in their debut season.
Hardik Pandya Has Made Us So Proud: Kapil Dev
Throughout the season, Pandya led his side from the front with his all-round show, scoring 487 runs at an average of 44.27 in 15 games and hitting four fifties. He also took eight wickets for his side, including a match-winning 3/17 in the final.
And for India, he has been exceptional in T20Is, as Hardik has made 314 runs across 13 innings in 14 matches at an average of 34.88. He has scored one half-century and various other crucial knocks. He has also taken 11 wickets for his side in 14 matches with best bowling figures of 4/33.
In three ODIs as well, he has hit 100 runs in two innings across three matches with an average of 50, with one fifty, and the best score of 71. He has also taken six wickets across these three matches, with best figures of 4/24.
Kapil Dev praised Hardik Pandya and called him invaluable for the Indian team.
“That is where the team gets an advantage (presence of all-rounders like Hardik Pandya). You have Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja who can bowl their overs and bat well. Any all-rounder is a cherry on the cake for the team. Hardik and Jadeja are great athletes. Hardik has made us so proud. Only thing is that he has to look after himself. Because when a person of his ability gets injured, the whole team gets injured. His ability nobody can doubt, the only thing I am worried about sometimes is his injuries,” said Kapil during an exclusive interview with ANI.
