Hardik Pandya (Image Credits: Twitter)
Hardik Pandya (Image Credits: Twitter)

Hardik Pandya, an all-rounder for India, has made the most of his skills since making a comeback to cricket by helping the Gujarat Titans win their inaugural IPL season.

He is currently operating at full capacity. Additionally, he is being discussed as the potential future captain of Team India in the event that it is restructured after the 2022 T20 World Cup. When he played the ideal second fiddle to Virat Kohli when India defeated Pakistan at the MCG, it was obvious how much Pandya had grown. 

Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. PC- Getty
Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. PC- Getty

Watch: Hardik Pandya’s Interaction With Krishnamachari Srikkanth

Former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth was stunned, and Pandya could have received the compliment of a lifetime as a result. “I should not do comparisons. I do not compare eras. When I see you play, the way you bowl, bat and field; it reminds me of Kapil Dev during our days. The impact you can create is somewhat what Kapil used to create.” 

To which, a smiling Pandya just said: “He is the greatest!” 

Pandya scored 40 runs, and he and Kohli combined for a hundred-plus run partnership to eliminate Pakistan from the game. The Baroda all-rounder broke down in tears after the game and thought about his father at the time. 

“I was only thinking about my dad. I have not cried about my dad. I love my son, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do for him what my dad did for me. He moved cities for a six-and-a-half-year old boy’s dreams without knowing I’d get to where I am today. So, this is for him,” said Hardik on Star Sports. 

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (PC-AP)

“I will be grateful forever. If he hadn’t given me a chance, I won’t be standing here. He made a big sacrifice, he shifted to a different city for his kids. We were six at that time, and he shifted an entire city and his entire business. It was a big thing.” 

Hardik Pandya Fit To Play

All-rounder for Baroda, Paras Mhambrey denied any suggestions that he didn’t play at all, despite sources confirming that he didn’t practise in the optional training sessions. 

“Yeah he is fit to play. Hardik wants to play all the games. That is important. And we are not looking at whom to rest, there is no such thought about any particular player.

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (PC-Getty Images)

Hardik is a very important player for us. He adds a lot of balance: he is both bowling and batting. Other than that, his attitude on the field is important,” Mhambrey said in the pre-match press conference. 

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