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Hardik Pandya has emerged as one of India’s standout performers in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Despite facing a challenging campaign in the IPL 2024, Pandya has swiftly regained his form, particularly showcasing his bowling prowess on the international stage.
Following his struggles in the IPL, all eyes were on Pandya, but he has responded emphatically. Currently, he leads India’s bowling charts in the tournament, surpassing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. His accurate bowling line and length have troubled opposition batsmen, particularly on the tricky pitches in New York, and he aims to sustain this impressive form.
In the three matches played so far, Hardik Pandya has claimed an impressive tally of 7 wickets, maintaining an economy rate of under 6. With the India vice-captain delivering consistently in the T20 World Cup, former fast bowler S Sreesanth has lauded his performance, drawing parallels between Pandya and Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
“The way Hardik is bowling, he doesn’t look like a part-time bowler. He can pick the new ball, and he can bowl those cutters. I think he is doing what Stoinis is doing for the Australia team, getting those crucial wickets and bowling those crucial overs. I think it is very important for an all-rounder,” S Sreesanth told ANI.
S Sreesanth on trolling faced by Hardik Pandya
S Sreesanth also addressed the trolling and criticism directed towards Hardik Pandya during the IPL season. Throughout the campaign, fans targeted Pandya, expressing their dissatisfaction over his appointment as captain of the Mumbai Indians, which replaced Rohit Sharma. Pandya’s struggles as a captain and all-rounder only exacerbated the situation.
Sreesanth highlighted that the entire country is now rallying behind Pandya and emphasized that he stands apart from other players. He asserted that Pandya possesses the capability to single-handedly turn the tide of a game with his batting, bowling, or fielding skills. Additionally, Sreesanth suggested that Pandya has the knack for fostering team unity, indirectly referencing the reported discord involving Rohit Sharma at MI.
“When you play for the Mumbai Indians, then only Mumbai was supporting him, and when he plays for India, the whole country supports him. With all due respect to fans, the energy that he brings makes us love him even more.
“There is no comparison to Hardik Pandya. That person can win you matches with fielding, he can win you matches with bowling and he can win you matches with batting. His performance gets better when the match is good. He keeps the players together. So that is a great quality. The IPL is gone, and now India is playing. I will just say the IPL was practice match, and this is to win the World Cup,” said S Sreesanth.
In the meantime, India has solidified their position in the Super 8s by clinching victories in all three of their initial group matches. Their upcoming fixture against Canada in Florida marks their final group encounter before they head to the Caribbean for the subsequent stage of the tournament.
