Hardik Pandya gives the Indian cricket team the balance it desires. He is the perfect modern-day cricketer. He can strike the ball big, roll his arm over decently and is a livewire in the field. If there is one thing that separates Hardik Pandya from other young cricketers, it is his immense self-belief. The flamboyant Baroda all-rounder never lets pressure affect his game, but instead relishes such situations.
Pandya shot to fame when he was picked up by an IPL franchise – a license to make his talent well-known on the big stage. Pandya announced himself to the world during the IPL, portraying his swashbuckling ability to strike the ball, outstanding fielding, and some street-smart bowling that transcends the cliché ‘just rolls his arm over’. He made the world sit up when he soaked in the pressure and came good in crunch situations, playing a pivotal role in the Mumbai franchise’s second title triumph, and winning two Man of the Match awards on his way. The Indian public and critics, who never fail to make comparisons, immediately had the inevitable question at the tip of their tongue: Had India found their first fast-bowling all-rounder since Kapil Dev?
An all-rounder cricketer India always needed to support the team in both the innings was found in Hardik Pandya through IPL.
