India’s former veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh is impressed with the way Hardik Pandya has made a comeback to action in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Pandya had last played competitive cricket back in the T20 World Cup 2021 and he wasn’t picked by the national selectors due to fitness issues.
However, Pandya is leading Gujarat Titans from the front in the early stages of the tournament. The Titans have won three out of their four matches and Pandya has played a key role in the team’s success.
Pandya is batting with more maturity in the middle-order but the team would want him to score his runs at a better strike rate. However, most importantly, Pandya is bowling his full quota of overs. Furthermore, he is bowling around 140 km/h, which is a big positive for Indian cricket.
The right-hander also scored his maiden fifty for Gujarat Titans against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday but his efforts went in vain as his team lost by eight wickets.
“He (Hardik) seems to be relishing his role as a captain and leading the team from the front. He’s performing with the bat for Gujarat Titans and has also started bowling well which are good signs for Team India as well. Look, he aims to make his India come back and if he can start giving those five-six overs with the ball then it will be a big positive for the national side because they’ll need a player of his caliber in the T20 World Cup in Australia,” Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports show Cricket Live.
“I believe that the responsibility of leading a team will only make Hardik a better player, a better captain, and a better person. Something similar happened with Rohit Sharma as well,” the former spinner added.
The Turbanator showered praise on Hardik Pandya for working hard to complete his father’s dream of representing the country.
“Hardik’s hard work and dedication to fulfil his father’s dream (to play cricket for India) is inspiring. He has shown what one can achieve through perseverance. Hardik is representing every person who wishes to rise from the bottom and make a mark for himself,” he concluded.
Gujarat Titans will next face Rajasthan Royals at the Dr. DY Sports Academy, Mumbai on Thursday.
