Hardik Pandya Acing his role on field

The skipper has been leading his team prominently as the team is currently at the top position in the league. Hardik Pandya has been away from international cricket for a long time due to his injuries. Many also questioned his poor form and capability to play international cricket again. However, Pandya is seen notably enhancing his skills on the field this season.

A perfect all-rounder?

 

Hardik Pandya has been known for his destructive batting performance. A wiry young lad from the small town of Gujarat encapsulates the charisma and swagger of the modern-day cricketer. The youngster announced himself to the world during IPL, portraying his incredible ability to smash the ball all over the ground, outstanding fielding and appreciable bowling skills. He is a blend of skills that India has been waiting for since the retirement of Kapil Dev. Pandya's compelling all-rounding show impressed Mumbai Indians, and the franchise bought him in 2015. Since then, he kept flourishing as a great all-rounder for MI. He further became a key player for the franchise, delivering his best with bowl, bat, and presence on the field. 

Although Pandya doesn't have a huge physique like other power hitters, he has developed his bat swing and timing to such incredible accuracy that he can smash the ball on his will irrespective of any bowler! He has stripped batting to its essence: balance, eyesight, and fast hands. There are no tiny feet movements that can upset the balance. He just leans forward or back with his knee flexed, driving without a stride- a minimal explosion! Scoring against Yorkers is an uphill task for many batters; however, Pandya has developed himself to score big even on Yorkers. Till now, in his 97 IPL matches, Pandya has scored 1704 runs with a sensational strike rate of 151.3. Pandya is also famed for his excellent fielding skills, and in his IPL career, he has taken 53 catches which clearly portrays his accuracy and intent on the field. 

Hardik Pandya had been away from his bowling for an extended period due to his back injury. Many criticised his bowling ability. However, Pandya has been pretty effective with his seamed-up bowling this season. With the ball, he has taken 65 wickets with a considerable economy of 8.9, which is quite impressive for an all-rounder. 

IPL 2022: A new role for the all-rounder!

In the fifteenth edition of IPL, Pandya was chosen as the captain of the newly emerged Gujarat franchise. Many doubted this decision and showed disappointment criticising Pandya as a captain. However, with his abilities and character to lead, Hardik Pandya proved his worth for this position to everyone. Pandya has been excellent with his captaincy role this season and is seen contributing from all units to his team. His team has won 4 out of 5 matches under his captaincy ruling on top of the points table. In the five games, he has scored 228 runs with an average of 76. He also has scored fifty-plus scores twice, displaying his batting potential quite well. Pandya's leadership was highlighted when he gave the opportunity to many new young faces reflecting his trust in his youngsters, which is a sign of a great captain. 

Wasim Jaffer said, "Every new captain wore a question mark next to his name as if he didn't know what he was getting himself into. The most impressive among them is Hardik Pandya. The batting responsibility he has assumed, the bowling fitness he has demonstrated, taking the new ball and delivering 140 kph speeds are all impressive." He further added, "He's caused a few runouts even when he's fielding. Not only would his confidence be boosted, but so would the selectors', as the World Cup is approaching. It's been a fantastic show."

Looking at Pandya's determination toward the game and his success as a captain, we can surely see him taking his team to greater levels and glorifying himself as a leader for the season and future as well.