Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has lauded Hardik Pandya and stated that he is India’s most valuable player in white-ball cricket. The all-rounder has been in the form of his life and he has made a blistering return to the game after recovering from injury.
Pandya led Gujarat Titans to glory in the Tata Indian Premier League 2022 as did a fine job for his team. The right-hander amassed 487 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 44.27 and scored his runs at a strike rate of 131.27 in Tata IPL 2022 and thus played a huge role in the success of his team.
Subsequently, Pandya was given the opportunity to lead India in the T20I series against Ireland. The all-rounder then played at the top of his game in the three-match ODI series against England. Pandya scored 100 runs in two innings and scalped a total of six wickets in three matches.
Pandya’s best performance came in the all-important decider at Old Trafford, Manchester when he returned with figures of 4-24, which is his best in the 50-overs format. Furthermore, he scored a fine knock of 71 runs off 55 balls and added 133 runs with Rishabh Pant for the fifth wicket alliance.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, ”Hardik Pandya – he has been absolutely stellar. One thing is getting proved that he is India’s most valuable player in white-ball cricket. I don’t think there is going to be anyone who is going to come close to him.”
There is no doubt that India has plenty of spin-bowling all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar but the renowned commentator reckons there is no replacement for Hardik Pandya as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
“If Hardik Pandya is fit, his replacement is not available. You will get many spin-bowling all-rounders in India, you get them easily, in different formats, but you don’t get a fast-bowling all-rounder at all, it is not possible at all.”
Chopra added that a different level of maturity is seen in Hardik Pandya’s batting. Pandya had played in the middle order for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and had played an anchor’s role.
“Now that he has come back to full spring as a bowler, he is bowling well, and a different level of maturity is being seen in his batting. You will also have to probably thank the IPL for that because he got the responsibility, got the chance to play in a different fashion.”
“Now it is not that you just come in the end and play as a finisher. The team has asked more, he has delivered more. So this has been an extremely beautiful thing. In my opinion, the No. 1 performer for this entire white-ball series, Hardik without a doubt.”
Hardik will now be seen in action in the series against the West Indies.
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