Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Hardik Pandya for his match-winning efforts as the all-rounder guided Team India to a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in the second match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (August 28) in Dubai.
In his four overs, Pandya snared 3/25 to help India restrict Pakistan to 147 before adding over 50 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (35 runs off 29 balls) and finishing off the game in MS Dhoni’s style in Dubai. He smashed four fours and one six during his knock of 33 runs off 17 balls against Pakistan.
Gavaskar said that Pandya’s "whole game has gone to another level" after he was named Gujarat Titans’ captain in the IPL 2022.
He also thanked God for having Hardik in the Indian team. The legendary batter also lauded Jadeja for playing a responsible knock at a stage when India needed the most.
As reported by India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said: “Ravindra Jadeja played such a responsible knock, fantastic innings from him. It’s not just the way he is playing the game, the way Hardik Pandya has been reading the game from the time he was appointed as the Gujarat Titans’ captain, his whole game has gone to another level. The way he assesses a situation and plays according to it is amazing. Thank god, we had him towards the end.”
Speaking about Pandya’s bowling against Pakistan, Gavaskar noted: “Exactly, because he read the pitch well, he’d seen that there was a bit of grass, he’d seen what had happened in the last T20 World Cup or even the IPL that was played last September. There was a little more carry and bounce and he used that experience to very good effect.”
He signed off by saying, “He used the bouncer to good effect because he has got that extra pace. Because he has got such a good rhythm, he can generate pace and that’s what he was doing.”
