IND vs NEP: "Troll Hardik Pandya As Much As You Want, But..." - Aakash Chopra's Colossal Remark On All-rounder After 87 vs Pakistan

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has showered praise on the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his heroics against the Pakistan National Cricket Team in the recent Asia Cup 2023 clash.

The high-voltage clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended with no result due to the rain in Pallekele. Winning the toss and batting first, India were reduced to 66/4, before Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan bailed the side out of trouble.

Both the batters looked solid in the middle against the strong Pakistan bowling attack and they stitched together 138 runs in 141 balls. Hardik Pandya scored a terrific 87 runs off 90 balls, with 7 fours and 1 six, to silence his critics.

While Ishan Kishan scored 82 runs off 81 deliveries, including 9 fours and 2 sixes. India got bundled out with 266 runs on the board and the second innings was completely washed out due to rain.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Pandya deserves more credit for his performances and added that the all-rounder brings out his best on the big stage. He elaborated:

“Hardik Pandya’s story is very good. I feel he should be given more credit for what he does. He saves his best for the big match, that’s something that we should all admire and acknowledge.

“You can troll him as much as you want, but whenever he plays against Pakistan, whether it was the 2017 Champions Trophy, the 2022 T20 World Cup, the last Asia Cup, or this match, whenever there is pressure and the Indian team is struggling, he is the guy. He comes and scores runs.”

Hardik Pandya was brilliant – Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator further stated that had India lost one more wicket after losing the top 4, they would have been bundled out inside 35 overs. He elaborated:

“Here also, they were stuck at one stage. You were 66/4. If another wicket had fallen, because when he and Ishan Kishan eventually got out, the team fell like a cycle stand. You couldn’t play the entire 50 overs.

“So if they had been dismissed earlier, you would have been dismissed by the 35th over or probably the 28th over. So that would have been a problem but Hardik Pandya was brilliant.”