[VIDEOS] Is Hardik Pandya, the Mr. Special in team India?

He is an excellent T20I player but can he win a knockout game for India?
 
Hardik Pandya has had struggles against Rashid Khan in T20s

Hardik Pandya vs Rashid Khan in T20s

6 inns, 27 runs, 37 balls, 2 outs, 13.5 avg, 73 SR
 
I demand an apology for Hardik Pandya :inti but I guess we will have to wait till the next failure :fizz
 
I don't like Hardik that much but hats off to him for performing the way he has been performing consider the struggles he is going through
 
I don't like Hardik that much but hats off to him for performing the way he has been performing consider the struggles he is going through
You probably don’t like him for off-field personality and attitude. That is understandable. However that doesn’t take away he is an outstanding white ball player. One of the best in the world.
 
Across the formats any time India plays Hardik Pandya India has upper hand against Australia

25 games Australia vs India with Pandya. India won 17 of them. SKY taking his place did not allow India to play Ashwin against Australia his favorite team.
 
Some people may hate him, but I love this guy's attitude. :qdkcheeky

Never underestimate him in tournaments; he is a champion player and a contributor with both bat and ball
 
Guy has nerves of steel along with loads of talent and great work ethic. Also knows his own game and body very well
 
What I liked was his smile after getting out - as if saying I enjoyed my time , no regrets if I have to go now.
 
Hardik was a nobody in the recent IPL but he stood up for his team in the big event. That is what you can expect from your gun player that he rises at the perfect occasion. He is doing well so far and has contributed in almost every game for his team.
 
As I’ve said many times, he is a champion player. Never discard him. :dhoni
Klaseen wicket was turning point, Pandya with golden arm did again
 
Gun player. Contributed with Bat and ball in the whole tournament.
 
Well played Pandya. I absolutely despise him as a person but as a cricketer, he earned lots of respect from lot of people in this tournament. Seriously gun player.
 
he is the best cricketer right now... bowling batting excellent.. no cheating..no strange bowling actions .. sheer power with brains
 
Hardik Pandya became the first Indian to score 100+ runs and take 10+ wickets in a T20 World Cup season

He scored 23*(13) in the semifinal and picked 3/20 in the final.

Brilliant all-round performance by him.
 
Sanjay Manjrekar said, while appearing on a sports media outlet's program:

“What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya. In IPL, there were people jeering him and booing him and I told them to behave because this is a big-stage player.”

“We have seen that umpteen times, wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada, so he was a champion and no surprise, to see him flourish on the big stage.”

“Even in that semifinal against England, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. So that's what he is all about."

“You felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over, he was not going to lose his nerves, he was going to bowl sensibly.”
 
Little known fact. Rohit sharma the captain has never lost a final when he had Pandya in his team. Won all the IPL finals with Hardik.
 
Pandya is extremely valuable for India's success in white ball cricket.

After Bumrah, second best player.
 
he was the most hated person in India a month ago and now what a turnaround he made through his match winning over.
 
Hardik Pandya is now the number 1 T20I all-rounder. Trust me, if Surya hadn't caught that boundary from David Miller, Miller would have scored 16 runs, and Pandya didn't bowl exceptionally well throughout the tournament.
 
Hardik Pandya is now the number 1 T20I all-rounder. Trust me, if Surya hadn't caught that boundary from David Miller, Miller would have scored 16 runs, and Pandya didn't bowl exceptionally well throughout the tournament.
Trust you for what? He did well in the final and batted throughout the tournament. He has an ICC trophy
 
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Hardik Pandya is now the number 1 T20I all-rounder. Trust me, if Surya hadn't caught that boundary from David Miller, Miller would have scored 16 runs, and Pandya didn't bowl exceptionally well throughout the tournament.

The best allrounder in the world. Just accept it, brother. There's no need to put Pandu down because he's better than all your allrounders :facepalm
 
A competent seam bowling all rounder is worth his weight in gold in cricket. Pandya's very good but only if he is fit enough ton bowl. otherwise he shouldnt be selected
 
A well deserving player is at the top now

there is no doubt Pandya is one of the best all rounder in white ball cricket.
 
Hardik Pandya is now the number 1 T20I all-rounder. Trust me, if Surya hadn't caught that boundary from David Miller, Miller would have scored 16 runs, and Pandya didn't bowl exceptionally well throughout the tournament.
That can’t be an actual cricket based opinion. Pandya has a batting average of 48 and strike rate of 150+ on these pitches with a match winning 50* and 11 wickets in the tournament with average of 17 and economy of 7.00.
 
Atleast he gave it his full this tournament and doesn’t get complacent.
 
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Had a wonderful tournament and is now the number 1 T20 allrounder in the world as well. What a time he is having.
 
I have been saying this for many years. He is not that special. Thinks too highly of himself. One or two good performances in international cricket means zilch. But he has got some blind supporters who also happen to be a blind supporter of Modani.:inti

I am upping my consulting fees by ONLY 2x. Need evidence? Well see the quoted post ... while this might sound very unfair but I will tell you this is still a big steal so don't be sad ... unless you want me to find your priceless gems on Rohit, Kohli etc .... 🤗😊😊🤣
 
I am upping my consulting fees by ONLY 2x. Need evidence? Well see the quoted post ... while this might sound very unfair but I will tell you this is still a big steal so don't be sad ... unless you want me to find your priceless gems on Rohit, Kohli etc .... 🤗😊😊🤣
Everyone knows my views on Pandya; they're an open book.
 
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Everyone knows my views on Pandya; they're an open book.

What you dont realize is the hidden near magical powers that you have in the opposite direction ... which is why I have doubled my consulting fees to 20%. Yes its still negotiable but not for long.
 
Irfan Pathan said during a show on a local Indian sports channel:

"What I feel about Hardik Pandya is that Indian cricket needs to make it clear that they should not give him that much priority as they have given him so far, because we still haven't won the World Cup. And if you think you are a primary all-rounder, you need to make that kind of an impact at the international level. As far as the all-rounder is concerned, he hasn't made that impact at the international level, we are only thinking about the potential. We are getting confused between the IPL performances and the international performances. That's a big difference."
Irfan Pathan attacked Hardik relentlessly during the IPL. I don't know what his problem is; he behaved like a nut.
It's good that Hardik put him in his place. Irfan, sitting on TV, talks a lot of rubbish and thinks he is an intellectual.
 
I have been saying this for many years. He is not that special. Thinks too highly of himself. One or two good performances in international cricket means zilch. But he has got some blind supporters who also happen to be a blind supporter of Modani.:inti
He is a vital cog for India. His absence was felt in 2023.
Glad he won in 2024. Hopefully more to come for pandya. Good player
 
He is a great player! Our Pakistani brothers should learn from this . This is what u call 5-6 guy who can hit the ball and a great baller! Sadly our Pakistan brothers rely to much on Chacha.
 
This guy came good in the World Cup and took important wickets at crucial times especially that Klaasen one in the final. People should acknowledge this guy for his efforts and he is probably the guy that team like Pakistan is desperately looking for.
 
Sunil Gavaskar has batted for the re-introduction of Hardik Pandya into Team India's Test setup while speaking to local sports media:

"I'm hoping that, in these next two months, there will be some effort made to try and convince Hardik Pandya to come back to Test cricket."

"If he starts batting at no. 6 or 7, maybe bowling just ten overs a day, but there with his batting, this Indian team will be pretty much invincible in any country, on any kind of surface."
 
Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar believes India could become an “invincible” side in Test cricket should the team management convince all-rounder Hardik Pandya to return to the Test setup. Hardik Pandya has not played a Test match for India since the 2018 tour of England, with a back injury keeping him out of the longest format ever since.

Hardik’s workload has been a major talking point over the last few years and having said that, the 30-year-old has himself clarified that he is not ready to play Tests again given the fact that he is already playing ODIs and T20Is. Hardik recently scored 144 runs and picked 11 wickets at the T20 World Cup recently as India emerged victorious.

India have a hectic Test season ahead of them this year. The Rohit Sharma-led side are scheduled to play two Tests against Bangladesh, three Tests against New Zealand as well as the Border-Gavaskar series later this year in Australia, which will constitute five Tests.

“Yes, absolutely, they can. I think in the next two months, there should be an attempt to convince Hardik Pandya to play Test cricket. If he bowls ten overs a day to go with his batting, this Indian team could become invincible, and they can surely go on and win the WTC and beat Australia in Australia,” Gavaskar, who turned 75 on Wednesday, was quoted as saying by RevSportz.


India have reached the final of both editions of the World Test Championship (WTC) so far, but on both occasions, they have fallen short. While they lost to New Zealand in the 2021 final by eight wickets, India suffered an even heavier defeat to Australia two years later, losing by 209 runs.

Talking about the Invincibles tag, only two teams have boasted of that in Test cricket — The 1948 Australian side led by Don Bradman and the 2002 Australia team led by Steve Waugh. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal achieved that tag in football, winning the English Premier League title in 2004 without losing a single match.

Hardik made his Test debut on 26 July 2017 against Sri Lanka in Galle, where he scored a half-century. He followed it up with a century off 70 balls in the next match. During India’s tour of South Africa in 2018, he scored 93 in Cape Town, and in the same year, Hardik scored a half-century and collected a five-fer against England at Trent Bridge, a match that India won by 203 runs. The Baroda cricketer has thus far played 11 Tests for India, scoring 532 runs and taking 17 wickets.

First post
 
Yeah he is not coming back to tests, he can easily swing the ball as seen in England but he wont be coming to Tests.
Gautam can say what he wants, Pandya is not doing that.
 
As per reports:

Hardik Pandya will lead India in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka from July 27, but he will miss the subsequent ODI series in August due to personal reasons.

Pandya, who was India's T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma, is fit for the T20Is, and his deputy for the T20 series is yet to be decided between Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav, while KL Rahul and Gill are potential leaders for the ODI series.
 
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Only complaint is Hardik could have been an all format great. Unfortunately will only remain a good white ball player and in 2-3 years a solely T20 specialist. Might retire as one of the white ball greats like Afridi, Yuvraj, Raina etc.
 
Only complaint is Hardik could have been an all format great. Unfortunately will only remain a good white ball player and in 2-3 years a solely T20 specialist. Might retire as one of the white ball greats like Afridi, Yuvraj, Raina etc.
Hardik Pandya hasnt done anything close to the names you quoted.

Yuvraj at 30 had already won world cup with Man of the tourney performance and wt20, also defeated cancer.

Similarly Afridi was a household name by then and had way too many match winning performances than Pandya.

Pandya can achieve Raina level though, if he continues good form.
 
Hardik Pandya hasnt done anything close to the names you quoted.

Yuvraj at 30 had already won world cup with Man of the tourney performance and wt20, also defeated cancer.

Similarly Afridi was a household name by then and had way too many match winning performances than Pandya.

Pandya can achieve Raina level though, if he continues good form.

Hardik has won a WT20 where he was a top performer, he has had man of the series performances in SENA countries and he has a shot at captaincy which Yuvraj and Raina didn’t which means he might have a longer career. He sneaks in one more ICC win, you will automatically bring him in the same debate along with the names. Hardik will walk into every top team in white ball right now including Eng and Australia.
 
Hardik has won a WT20 where he was a top performer, he has had man of the series performances in SENA countries and he has a shot at captaincy which Yuvraj and Raina didn’t which means he might have a longer career. He sneaks in one more ICC win, you will automatically bring him in the same debate along with the names. Hardik will walk into every top team in white ball right now including Eng and Australia.
He was not the standout performer by any means.

The named you quoted were literally the best performer in some icc tourneys and they were also more talented and had better match winning performances in their career.
 
In an interview to a local news agency , former Indian cricket team star Mohammad Kaif:

"I think Hardik Pandya 'shayad captain banne chahiye the' (for Sri Lanka tour). Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for two years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final...Hardik has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup. Now, a new coach has arrived, there will be new planning. Surya is also a good player, he has been playing for years. He is a No.1 T20 player, I hope he will shoulder the captain's responsibility well. But I feel they should have backed Hardik."

"Gambhir is an experienced captain and coach...He understands cricket very well. I think 'Hardik ne aisa koi galat kaam nhi kia ki unko captaincy na mile' (Hardik has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy). He has experience, has captained in the IPL and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to the trophy, with fresh and young faces, which is a huge thing. He has made the Titans win by working from Ground Zero in the IPL...I think he was entitled to the captaincy. So let's just wait and see."
 
Hardik has won a WT20 where he was a top performer, he has had man of the series performances in SENA countries and he has a shot at captaincy which Yuvraj and Raina didn’t which means he might have a longer career. He sneaks in one more ICC win, you will automatically bring him in the same debate along with the names. Hardik will walk into every top team in white ball right now including Eng and Australia.

In T20I, Hardik is superb. In ODIs, not much. He averages 41 with bowl and with bat, his average is 33 and strike rate is good. More often than not, he has injury issues and skips way too many game to be considered a great.

He will have a lot to do in ODIs to reach the level of Yuvraj or Afridi. He can reach Raina level but where are the ODI tons? His bowling also in ODIs is nowhere near the T20Is.
 
Ajit Agarkar spoke about Hardik Pandya, during a press conference alongside India's Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir:

"Fitness has been something that he's struggled with. As selectors, it becomes difficult then. The thought behind it was that we want someone (as captain) who is likely to be available more."

"We also feel we can manage Hardik better, we've seen what he can do with the bat and ball in the World Cup. We speak to every player, about whether their role has changed. And yeah we've spoken to him."
 
Bharatiya fans in celebratory mode as Hardik seems to have found us all a Bollywood bhabhi.
 
Hardik Pandya is now the number 1 T20I all-rounder. Trust me, if Surya hadn't caught that boundary from David Miller, Miller would have scored 16 runs, and Pandya didn't bowl exceptionally well throughout the tournament.

If that ball had gone for six, Miller would have finished it in 3 balls
 
ICT knows and understands that Bumrah and Hardik are their greatest white ball tournament weapons. They provide skillset that nobody else in world can provide at moment.

Because of this, selectors have decided that they will not be given captaincy since captain will be expected to play majority of games and these guys will be used selectively only for tourneys and big series.

Hardik should and will limit his focus to white ball cricket and they will try to build up his bowling strength through Vijay Hazare games if possible to get close to 10 overs per match ODI level.
 
While speaking to a local channel, former India fast bowler and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said he was not surprised by the Indian management's decision not to appoint Hardik Pandya as the new T20I captain:

"No, I am not surprised. When it comes to cricket, these things keep happening. Yes, Hardik Pandya was vice-captain in the World Cup, but at the same time, there is a new coach who has come in. Every coach and every captain have different thoughts. At this time, his (Gambhir's) ideas are toward that direction."

"I think Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have made it clear, that's good. He is playing one format, 50-over also, he is playing less. Hardik Pandya, in white-ball cricket, will remain a very, very important player for Indian cricket. When you have him, you can have 4 fast bowlers, he brings in a different balance to the side and keep in mind, that there's no impact player in international cricket."
 
Jasprit Bumrah speaking about Hardik Pandya, getting booed during IPL 2024, in an interview:

"We understand (that) we live in a country where emotion is really the talking point. It's an emotion-driven country. We understand that fans do get emotional, and players are also emotional."

"It does affect that you're an India player, and you're playing in India, and your own fans are speaking that about you. But it is the way it is. You've got to take it on your chin. How can you go out there and stop people?
"If you start focusing on yourself, you try to shut that door."

"It's not that simple saying 'just don't focus on it.' They're screaming, and you can hear it, but then, the inner circle helps you. We, as a team, don't encourage that, we don't promote that, we don't think that is warranted.”

"Now, the world can think what they want to. We as a team were talking to him, if he needed support, his family would always be there. Certain things are beyond your control. If it happens, it happens."

"Now, that narrative has changed since we won the World Cup.”

"You cannot take it seriously. Because, again, the people are singing praises. It doesn't mean it's the be-all and the end-all. A few days later, if we lose another game, the narrative can change. You understand it is how it is.”

"You understand it now, because we play a sport that is so popular, every sportsman will go through these things. In football, you see fans booing the best players in the world. This is a part of the sportsman's journey, things will happen that are not great. Sometimes, it might not be fair also, but it is the way it is.”

"We have had a great life, we're doing good things in our sport and for ourselves. All these challenges will come, but it will be better if you take it in the right manner."

 
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Scott Styris while speaking to local Indian media outlet:

“I want Hardik to work on his fitness and dominate world cricket. It is not easy to bowl as it requires a lot of hard work but he has got all the skills to become a genuine all-rounder. I want him to contribute with the bat and ball.”

“He is a phenomenal cricketer, who can be impactful. I am happy that he was not given Team India’s captaincy for the series. Let him play as an all-rounder and enjoy his game. He is in a similar zone as someone like Ben Stokes but he needs to be consistent.”
 
Suryakumar Yadav speaking during an interview with Indian news agency:

"Hardik's role has always been the same. He is a very important player for the team. The way he performed in the World Cup, I hope he will continue to do the same,"

"The same train will go ahead; only the engine has changed and the bogies remain unchanged,"

"Nothing changes; the brand of cricket remains the same. It (the captaincy role) doesn't change anything. It has given me an added responsibility. It is good that now I can do a 'walk the talk',"

"What I have learnt from Rohit is that he was always a leader on the ground and off it,"

"He was not just a captain - there is a lot of difference between the two. He was a leader who stood in the middle of the group and showed people the way”

“How to play T20 cricket and how to win a tournament? That is what I have learnt from him,"​
 
Everyone knows my views on Pandya; they're an open book.
And i guess they are wrong lol open book or not ! 😂😂And he's absolute clutch against pak. Now a wc winner. He's proven a lot of people wrong. For some reason- against pak he just turns up. And those 2 overa to get klaasen and miller out in such intense pressure was pure mental toughness. Another 6 by klaasen and game was over.. that klaasen wicket was one for the ages..
 
Shastri’s advice to Hardik Pandya after captaincy snub

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has outlined the future path for Hardik Pandya following his T20I captaincy snub.

Having acted as deputy to Rohit Sharma in India’s triumphant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, Hardik Pandya was one of the front-runners to take over the mantle once Rohit retired from the format.

However, when the squad for the current Sri Lanka tour was announced, Hardik was listed only as a player, with Suryakumar Yadav being named as India’s T20I captain.

Ultimately, it was Hardik’s ongoing fitness issues that cost him the captaincy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said in the pre-tour press conference that they preferred a player whose availability was consistently reliable, thus tilting the scales away from Hardik.

In the latest edition of The ICC Review, Shastri offered valuable advice to Hardik on how he can return to his peak performance.

“I think (it's) very important that he continues to play,” Shastri said while speaking to host Sanjana Ganesan.

“I believe match fitness is very important. So whatever T20I cricket there is, he should play as much as he can. And if he feels strong and fit, then obviously he comes into the side for the one-day game as well.

“But then again, the bowling becomes important. If you have someone coming and bowling just three overs in where you have to bowl 10 in a one-day game, then the balance of the side takes a hit.

“If you can bowl consistently eight to 10 overs every game and then bat the way he does, I think he'll play in one-day cricket as well.”

Hardik has had a long-standing battle with major injuries that date back to 2018.

During India’s high-voltage clash against Pakistan that year at the Asia Cup in Dubai, Pandya collapsed after bowling, clutching his back in agony and had to be stretchered off the field. A diagnosis revealed a stress fracture that necessitated surgery and extensive rehabilitation.

Pandya chose to recover without surgery and managed to get fit in time for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. However, his back issues resurfaced later that year, ultimately requiring him to undergo surgery.

More recently, Hardik sustained an ankle injury while attempting to field the ball on follow-through during India’s Cricket World Cup 2023 encounter against Bangladesh.

This injury sidelined him for an extended period, and he only returned to international action during the T20 World Cup.

Upon his return, Hardik reminded everyone of his exceptional talent as an all-rounder, scoring crucial runs and taking important wickets throughout the tournament.

In the final, Hardik delivered under pressure, taking the crucial wickets of the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen and then David Miller in the last over, helping to end India’s 11-year trophy drought.

The 30-year-old then collected two wickets and scored a valuable 22* during India's series-clinching victory over Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Sunday to further showcase his credentials.

Shastri said that his recent performances would be enough motivation for Hardik to get back to full fitness.

“So I think it's up to him really, more than anything else,” Shastri added. “He understands his body better than anyone. And I'm sure, this will inspire him, especially with the way he did in the World Cup, the way he performed at the right times for India and the World Cup, so that should really get him going. He shouldn't need any motivation to get his fitness right at the top there.”

 
Hardik Pandya's Test career appears to be over. His absence from the Duleep Trophy squads has created confusion and suggests that his red-ball career may be a thing of the past. Pandya last played Test cricket in 2018, and his continued exclusion from selection has raised questions about his future in the format
 
Hardik Pandya's Test career appears to be over. His absence from the Duleep Trophy squads has created confusion and suggests that his red-ball career may be a thing of the past. Pandya last played Test cricket in 2018, and his continued exclusion from selection has raised questions about his future in the format
Pandya was never a good red ball cricketer, nothing achieved anything significant... so it's good for him to concentrate only on his white ball cricket to prolong his career.
 
Moral of the story is that special treatment is fine as long as you deliver and Hardik delivered big time in the World T20.
 
Saw him at Indian Gymkhana London, not too long ago, he's got bigger fish to fry than playing domestics
So some of the Indian players also chose not to play domestic instead they train on their own somewhere else. Sub-continental thing I gues.
 
So some of the Indian players also chose not to play domestic instead they train on their own somewhere else. Sub-continental thing I gues.
pandya is exempted on medical grounds from domestic first class matches.But pandya have to play in domestic limited formats, if fitness permits him.Bumrah is exempted from all domestic matches.
 
So some of the Indian players also chose not to play domestic instead they train on their own somewhere else. Sub-continental thing I gues.
I think his red ball career's done and dusted, hence in London whilst Duleep Trophys underway...
More informed posters can confirm it..
 
As per reports:

As India's latest season began with a Test series against Bangladesh, the 30-year-old all-rounder posted images on social media where he was seen batting and bowling with the red ball which has got people thinking about his potential return to the side with an away Border-Gavaskar trophy coming up at the end of the year.

An India media outlet has speculated that Pandya is being considered as an option for the Australia series by the team management.
 
As per reports:

As India's latest season began with a Test series against Bangladesh, the 30-year-old all-rounder posted images on social media where he was seen batting and bowling with the red ball which has got people thinking about his potential return to the side with an away Border-Gavaskar trophy coming up at the end of the year.

An India media outlet has speculated that Pandya is being considered as an option for the Australia series by the team management.
It's tempting for one test...maybe two. The fourth seamer isn't really high quality in India so maybe we can get away with using Pandya and adding the batting depth?

We're only fooling ourselves though...his body just isn't up to the demands of the red ball game.
 
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