Hardik Pandya slammed by RP Singh, challenged to deliver against stronger opposition than Bangladesh

Former India National Cricket Team pacer RP Singh wasn't impressed with people lauding Hardik Pandya's performance in the first T20I against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. He said that judging player's performance against Bangladesh is not right as they are not at the highest level.

India National Cricket Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya came up with the match-winning effort in the first T20I against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. The all-rounder shined for his team with the bat and ball and helped them complete a dominating win.

Hardik Pandya first set the stage on fire with the ball as he troubled the Bangladesh National Cricket Team batters with his impeccable lines and lengths. Then, he picked one wicket and returned with the figures of 1/26 in the four overs that he bowled, helping his team bundled out the opposition for a total of under 130 runs.

Pandya's best came with the bat as he wreaked havoc across the opposition. The all-rounder batted like he was in the nets as he slammed balls over the park and made sure that he helped his team win the game inside the 12 overs and go 1-0 up in the series.

Pandya ended with the innings of unbeaten 39 runs off just 16 balls. He batted with a strike rate of around 245 and slammed 5 fours and 2 sixes in the innings. He made a mockery of the opposition and finished off things in style for his team.

Hardik did well, he is capable of doing things like that - RP Singh

For his impressive innings, Pandya was applauded by many but RP Singh wasn't impressed by it. The former India National Cricket Team pacer said that although the all-rounder did well, it wasn't good to hype the performance against such a team. Speaking to Jio Cinema, he explained:

"Bangladesh team ko leke kisi ka true form judge karna, mujhe lagta hai itna sahi soch nahi hai. (I think using a performance against Bangladesh to judge a player's form is not right). The way they are playing, it is not at the highest level at the moment,”

"Hardik did well, he is capable of doing things like that. But using a performance against this team as a criterion, in my opinion, is not right. Do that maybe against a better team or in a better competition.”

Bangladesh did not create a situation where he had to make a match or finish it - RP Singh on Hardik Pandya

RP Singh further mentioned that Hardik Pandya didn't have any pressure because India already had one step past the finishing line. He stressed that Bangladesh didn't create a situation where the all-rounder had to make a match or finish it. He added:

“Kahi baar hota hai na ki haa ab toh match jeetna hi hai, kam runs banane hai toh aap free hote ho (There are times when you feel free because you know that the team is close to victory and there isn't too many runs left to score). Bangladesh did not create a situation where he had to make a match or finish it."

What is good to see is that Hardik Pandya is bowling four overs - RP Singh

Also, RP Singh noted that Hardik Pandya bowling 4 overs is a plus for the Indian team as he has attained full fitness. But he concluded that fans shouldn't get excited about his performance against Bangladesh. He elaborated:

"What is good to see is that Hardik Pandya is bowling four overs. There was always a question as to whether he can bowl his full quota or not but he is doing that well now. His batting was always good, where he has improved is in his bowling and fitness. Performance solely Bangladesh team ko dekh ke mujhe nahi lagta hume excited hone chahiye. There are a lot of real tests still to come," he concluded.