Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja heaped praise on all-rounder Hardik Pandya for the change he saw in him and the calmness he showed during the crunch situation against Pakistan in the second match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 on Sunday (August 28) in Dubai.
Explaining how Pandya has evolved over the years, the cricket expert said that the Indian all-rounder has come so far from the Koffee with Karan controversy back in 2019. Notably, Pandya contributed big in India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan, taking 3 wickets and scoring 33* runs.
Ajay Jadeja said on Cricbuzz: “Two years ago, when he and KL Rahul came out after drinking coffee, what did people think about Hardik Pandya then? The public or who didn't know him thought differently of him. They had a different perception of him and he had to battle it.
Today after winning, the perception is changed and the battle is over. His battle is not with anyone, it's enjoyment. Leave the game, he is also enjoying life right now.”
On Hardik's performance against Pakistan, Jadeja noted: “It’s not like after the injury, his batting has got a new skill. But now the calmness we see in him is due to confidence or rather the assurance placed on him. When a new player comes in, they always want to prove themselves in the beginning.
Then after that in the next phase, they play how they want too as they have cemented their place in the team. I think now Pandya is in that phase. For Gujarat, he would play in different roles, at no. 3, no. 4. Today, I didn't think he would perform in the role assigned to him by Team India today. I was worried. But then the calmness he showed, even in the dot balls, you could see he was not in a hurry.”
After Hardik finished the match with a big six against Pakistan, many were comparing him with MS Dhoni. Jadeja feels the all-rounder showed confidence like Virender Sehwag.
He signed off by saying, “Just like how you would see it with Virender Sehwag, you knew it would be done, he had the confidence. But then with me, I would always be unsure. So the difference is there, and he has accepted it, also within the team.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
