Hardik Pandya made a stunning comeback after a 6-month gap and left many speechless who were questioning his fitness and future with his success both as captain and all-rounder in the IPL 2022.
The 28-year-old not only guided Gujarat Titans (GT) to the IPL 2022 trophy but also scored 487 runs at an average of 44.27, including four half-centuries, as well as snared 8 wickets with his best figures of 3/17 in the final.
Reacting to his remarkable comeback, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More said that Hardik has now become a "four-dimensional" cricketer. He will be soon seen in action against South Africa.
Kiran More told SG Podcast, “The best moment for me in IPL 15 was the way Gujarat Titans played cricket. It was outstanding. And especially Hardik becoming a captain and lifting the trophy, his personal performance was equally brilliant. Going from Mumbai Indians to Gujarat Titans; it’s not that easy to go and lead the new team and straightaway win the championship.”
Recalling Pandya’s early days, the former selector noted: “He wanted to play the sport. Krunal Pandya (his elder brother) had joined my academy and Hardik used to hang around. He used to keep running behind the nets and catching the ball. That is when I told Krunal to bring him to nets as well and that’s when I saw the hunger in his eyes.”
More signed off by saying, “For me, Hardik was a young kid, who wanted to perform all the time. I now believe he is a four-dimensional player now. Earlier he was a three-dimensional player because he is a bowler, batter, and a fielder but now he is a captain as well. So, you feel proud that you have such a talented cricketer in the national side.”
