Hardik Pandya has returned to the Indian squad thanks to his exploits in the IPL 15 season.
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised Hardik Pandya, calling him a very valuable T20 cricketer who can finish games for India in T20Is. For the five-match T20I series against South Africa, a fully fit Pandya has returned to the squad.
In the IPL 2022, after getting released by the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI), Hardik was picked by Gujarat Titans (GT), a debutant franchise for a hefty price tag of INR 15 crores. This decision proved to be a stroke of brilliance, as Pandya had the season of his life with both bat and ball. He scored 487 runs and took 8 wickets in 15 games.
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In the final of the 2022 edition, the 28-year-old had one of the most dazzling all-round performances against Rajasthan Royals, taking three wickets with the ball and scoring 34 runs with the bat, which was vital in the Titans' title win.
"Hardik Pandya is very valuable and he is capable of finishing the game. He can do that, batting from the top as well. So, the management is quite aware of this, and having him in the team, they don't just have one or two but three finishers in the team. The way Hardik Pandya bats, he is capable of scoring sixes anytime and has started playing along the ground too, which is why this season in the IPL, he has been great. Getting back to batting, the Indian team, having three finishers, has filled up the gaps, and having him back in the team excites me a lot," Pathan said on Star Sports' show Follow The Blues.
Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik, two emerging Indian bowlers, were outstanding for their respective IPL franchises this year. The former has been one of Punjab Kings' top pacers, particularly in the death overs, when he has picked up wickets at regular intervals whereas the latter took the cricketing world by storm with his raw pace.
"Absolutely thrilled to see these two guys getting the India call-up. Arshdeep Singh has been bowling well since a long time now. A left-arm bowler does give you a different angle, but the way he has bowled in the death is what has impressed me the most," Pathan said.
"Umran Malik - Wow - you know, he's bowled consistently at 150km. I'm really impressed with him. The whole world is excited, not just India because there aren't many who can bowl 15km consistently in the world. In that way, he has got potential. Obviously, he is inexperienced as far his first-class cricket is concerned. But I think this team management, Rahul Dravid, and all the coaches will back him," he added.
The ‘Men in Blue’ will take on the Proteas in the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday (June 09).
(STAR SPORTS INPUTS)