Sunil Gavaskar Impressed By Hardik Pandya's Maturity In The ODI Series In Australia

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya seems to have solidified the number six position in India’s One-day team. Hardik Pandya had an outstanding series against Australia with the bat even as he played in his first One-day international in more than a year. Having made a significant impact in two out of three games in Australia, Sunil Gavaskar has been impressed with his maturity.

Hardik Pandya, who came on the back of some magnificent IPL form with the bat, managed two of his highest scores with the bat. The 26-year old made 90 in the first game in Sydney, sharing a stand of 128 with Shikhar Dhawan that eventually proved futile in pursuit of 375. Pandya followed it with 28 in the second and an unbeaten 92 in the third that resulted in a victory.

Pandya, who received the man of the match award, earned praises from Sunil Gavaskar for his maturity when things looked tricky for India. The former Indian opening batsman appreciated the Baroda all-rounder for recognizing the situation after Virat Kohli’s wicket that only batting through the end will get them to a formidable total. Gavaskar further admired his and Jadeja’s sensible batting till the 40-42 overs before dishing out meaty blows.

“Today was very smart, very good cricket from this young man (Pandya) who is showing great maturity with every game that he is playing. Even the first game when he got to 90, the maturity that he showed there and today after Virat Kohli was out he recognized that the fact that he needed to bat until the end if India were to get to a total that they could defend. And the way he and Jadeja planned that innings where they batted sensibly till the 40-42 overs and then they started to accelerate, and that made the difference in the game,” Sunil Gavaskar told India TV.

They were stealing the second run under the fielder’s noses: Sunil Gavaskar

The 125-Test veteran believes that the running between the wickets from Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya was the significant difference more than the boundaries. Sunil Gavaskar hailed the ‘supreme athletes’ for stealing the ones and twos under the fielder’s noses.

“But you know what really made the difference as far as I am concerned was their running between the wickets. The sixes, if you time the ball well, you have the power and you can hit them. But they were stealing the second run under the fielder’s noses. The ball was going straight to the fielder at long-off and long-on, and both these guys are supreme athletes,” the 71-year old added.

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