Last Update on: May 29th, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya for remarkable leadership in IPL 2022.
Gujarat Titans cemented their spot in the IPL 2022 final in their maiden season with the seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1. David Miller blasted with his fireworks in the final over to take RR past the finishing line.
Miller smashed Prasidh Krishna for three successive sixes as Gujarat Titans needed 16 runs in the final six deliveries.
Miller was involved in an unseparated 106-run stand with Hardik, who hit 40 in 27 balls.
Hardik has earned plaudits for leadership skills as the Baroda-born cricketer is leading any team for the first time at the competitive level.
Hardik Pandya surprised us with how comfortable he looked in a leadership role: Sanjay Manjrekar
Manjrekar said Hardik has the potential to lead the Indian team after a prolific show with Gujarat Titans.
“Hardik Pandya surprised us at how comfortable he looked in a leadership role captaining Gujarat Titans. If you are leading a team in the IPL, you can lead Team India,” Manjrekar said on CricChat season 2 on ShareChat.
A brief look at Hardik Pandya’s performance IPL 2022
Hardik has scored 453 runs at an average of 45.3 and strike rate of 132.84 with four fifty-plus scores this season so far. Hardik has picked five wickets with the ball, he cleaned up Rajasthan Royals batter Devdutt Padikkal in the Qualifier 1 game.
Hardik last played for India during the T20 World Cup in November 2021, thereafter the all-rounder didn’t play any international or domestic game owing fitness concerns.
The 28-year-old was named in India’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, which starts on June 9.
Rajasthan Royals defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets in the Qualifier 2 as opener Jos Buttler scored his fourth century of this season and remained undefeated on 106.
The Sanju Samson-led side will face Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 final on Sunday (May 29) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Also Read: GT vs RR: Hardik Pandya Is Ready To Take The Fight On As Captain: Vikram Solanki
