Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra lauded Hardik Pandya’s performances in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which India won by 3-0. Pandya bagged the Player of the Series after his consistent performances against the Tigers.
The hosts won the third T20I at Hyderabad by a mammoth margin of 133 runs to complete a clean sweep at Hyderabad on Saturday. Pandya once again added the finishing touches with an 18-ball 47, with the help of four fours and as many sixes and added 70 runs with Riyan Parag in the final game.
Pandya scored 118 runs (second-most) in three matches of the series at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 222.64. Furthermore, Pandya picked up one wicket in two innings.
“Hardik Pandya was the Player of the Series. He has seen the lows of lows in his personal and professional life, getting booed – everything has happened. His batting in all three matches, he has played few balls but always with a strike rate above 200. I thought he was absolutely sensational,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
Chopra lauded Hardik Pandya’s panache with the bat as he timed the ball to perfection in the T20I series.
“His swag is different. It was like hooliganism. He hit a six over cover and a no-look one-handed six on the leg side… He is batting differently. It was almost like insulting the bowlers, as though they don’t have any status at all,” he added.
A fit Hardik Pandya is the key for India in the white-ball formats and the all-rounder will look to keep up the good show in upcoming assignments.
Pandya will be next seen in action in the four-match T20I series against South Africa, starting November 8.