Asia Cup: IND vs PAK: Hardik Pandya has grown in stature as one of the star all-rounders in world cricket. On Sunday, against Pakistan, Hardik came up with an all-round game to help India pick up an impressive five wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai. India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was pleased with both batting and bowling of Hardik, and hopes to see him deliver likewise in the T20 World Cup. The ICC event is scheduled for October in Australia. Follow Asia Cup cricket live updates with InsideSport.IN
Hardik was in absolute mood against Pakistan. He delivered a match winning performance with a three-wicket haul and an unbeaten 33.
Bhuvneshwar was pleased with the outcome, and the way the all-rounder steered India to victory in the big clash. Hence, India’s pacer believes Hardik will be a key player for India in Australia, and hopes to see him continue with this form in the upcoming World Cup as well.
“With the way Hardik Pandya is batting and bowling, he is going to be a key player for India in the T20 World Cup. He has been superb in the last few series we have played. I will hope and pray that Hardik does the same kind of batting and bowling in the T20 WC as well. And if he manages to stay in this form, it will help Team India,” Bhuvneshwar said.
The level of confident Bhai Ka …#HardikPandya @hardikpandya7 #SuryakumarYadav #RishabhPant #UrvashiRautela #INDvsPAK #KingKohli #CongratulationsIndia #Captaincy pic.twitter.com/K8n2k3YRh8
— Sports Hour (@SportsHour3) August 28, 2022
Hardik looked in good touch and was calm and composed with the bat in his hand. He hit the winning six to help India pick up a five-wicket win. His innings of 33 from 17 came at the much-needed hour during the chase as he slammed four fours and one massive six.
However, it was the bowling, which bagged headlines. The pacer, who was stretchered off at the same venue in 2018 due to an injury, surprised Pakistan batters with his pace. He did not give them much room to play their shots, but it was his short-pitched deliveries that did the trick. He scalped three important wickets.
As Bhuvneshwar said, Hardik can prove to be the game changer in the T20 World Cup in Australia. The pitches in Australia will offer much more to the pacers. And with Hardik having started to bowl consistently around the 140kmph mark, India are in good hands in the all-round department. When it comes to his batting, he possesses that special ability to change the game on its head with his big hits.
Editors pick
