Is Hardik Pandya good enough for Test cricket? Is he even an all-rounder? There are few more questions Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was slammed with. His credential as a fast bowler had a question mark too.
Pandya has featured in just 10 Tests till now and recently, West Indies great Michael Holding had come up with raspy words for the all-rounder.
The 24-year-old who was often compared with Kapil Dev, arguably India's greatest all-rounder. But Holding said, "find someone who can contribute a lot more to this team right now". He further added, “It seems as if he’s the golden boy in this team. Everyone thinks he’s going to be the next Kapil Dev. He hasn’t shown that yet. Why not pick a batsman? Pandya got a few runs in the second innings but is he a better batsman than Pujara? I don’t think so, and you don’t need him as a bowler in my eyes."
Result? Pandya bagged a five-wicket haul against England in the third Test. He picked those five wickets in a space of 28 balls, India's second fastest after Harbhajan Singh's 27-ball fiver against West Indies back in 2006.
Twitterati was waiting to jump into the scene and lash out at Holding for his words against their hero of Trent Bridge.
Michael Holding: “Kohli needs to score runs in England to be considered as a great batsman”
— AJ ㅤ (@DarrKeAage) August 19, 2018
*Kohli scores 2 centuries in next 3 tests.
MH: Pandya is not ready for Tests.
*Pandya takes fifer in next innings.#EngvInd
Michael Holding: "Hardik Pandya is not an all-rounder."
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) August 19, 2018
Pandya gets fired up and takes 5 wickets.
Someone please tell Michael Holding to say: "Hardik Pandya can't score a triple century in the 2nd innings."#ENGvIND
If Pandya takes more wickets and scores runs, the only mic drop we will see is from Michael Holding. #EngvInd
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) August 19, 2018
Michael Holding before start of test match vs today
— Kuptaan ???????? (@Kuptaan) August 19, 2018
#EngvInd #INDvENG #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/FFjQbsCYfz
Meanwhile Michael Holding To Hardik Pandya. #INDvENG #INDvsENG #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/dKSjnzHpL2
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) August 19, 2018
What a debut for Pant!! Hey Michael Holding that makes it TWO IPL show ponies rocking it in a Test Match. #ENGvIND
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 19, 2018
Two-minute silence for Michael Holding..... pic.twitter.com/HbK3rGmuKI
— вυмяαн (@fake_bumrah_) August 19, 2018
Hardik Pandya today ????????????#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Jk0sjKbHPA
— Jon Snow (@Gujju_Jon) August 19, 2018
#INDvsENG After watching Hardik pandya today's performance England and Michael holding be like pic.twitter.com/seSJUnuBLn
— Sumit Kr Mishra (@imskm11) August 19, 2018
pandya to his haters #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/RkrhYYfg3v
— capt. (@thephukdi) August 19, 2018