IPL Auction 2025: Hardik Pandya establishes himself as India's greatest all-rounder; Mumbai Indians in shame

India allrounder Hardik Pandya marked his domestic return in style with a fine knock against Gujarat in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. While playing for Baroda, Pandya smashed an unbeaten 74 off 35 balls, and struck 6 fours and 5 sixes during his knock.

Pandya was in breathtaking form with the bat as he took Baroda home while remaining unbeaten till the end. He came in to bat at No. 5, the same position he bats for India, and showed aggressive intent right away.

He formed a vital partnership with Shivalik Sharma and then teed off in a fiery partnership with his brother Krunal Pandya, who is also the captain of Baroda. Not only with the bat, Pandya opened the bowling and finished with 1-37 in four overs.

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Hardik Pandya reaches special milestone during Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

HARDIK PANDYA MADNESS IN SYED MUSHTAQ ALI 💪

- Baroda chasing 185 runs, the team was in big trouble and the MVP of Team India arrived and smashed 74* runs from just 35 balls including 6 fours & 5 sixes against Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/gflr1IGBEk

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 23, 2024

Hardik Pandya needed just 7 runs to reach 5000 runs in T20 cricket before this game. He reached the unique feat and thus, completed a special milestone of 5000 runs and 100-plus wickets in T20 cricket.

Pandya already has 180 wickets to his name in the T20 format. He became the first Indian player to achieve this feat. Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who retired from the T20I format after India's T20 World cup 2024 triumph, is second on this list with 3684 runs and 225 wickets to his name.

Left-arm spinning allrounder Axar Patel is third on this list with 2960 runs and 227 wickets. Hardik's brother Krunal Pandya is fourth on this list with 2712 runs and 138 wickets so far. Meanwhile, former Baroda allrounder Irfan Pathan has scored 2020 runs and picked up 173 wickets to be fifth on this list.

Baroda start on a winning note

Meanwhile, it was a brilliant start to the tournament from Baroda on the back of a superb knock from Hardik Pandya. Gujarat scored 184-5 batting first as Aarya Desai and skipper Axar Patel played crucial knocks.

Desai scored 78 off 52 balls while Axar Patel scored 43 off 33 balls. Hemang Patel and Ripal Patel produced fiery cameos down the order to take Gujarat to a fighting first innings total.

Baroda reach the target in last over

In reply, Baroda lost two early wickets but Shivalik stayed at one end to hold the innings together. Hardik Pandya came in to bat in the 10th over and made a significant impact on the run rate.

Pandya's power-hitting was on full display at Indore as it was a one-man show from him. The crowd was on its feet watching their star player bat in full flow. Baroda reached the target in the last over with three balls to spare.