2022 has been a year of renaissance for one Hardik Himanshu Pandya on the field. The 28 year old has put behind the struggles of the last few years with issues on and off the field. Pandya was dropped from the Indian team post the 2021 World T20 which was hosted by India in the UAE. After taking some time off to work on his game, the 28 year old all rounder made a stirring comeback to the game. First he captained debutant team of TATA IPL 2022, Gujarat Titans to a title win. Then made a spectacular comeback to the Indian team.
The story as it happened –
Hardik Pandya made his comeback to the men in blue outfit, during the home series against South Africa. Pandya was chosen as the vice captain after Pant was handed the leadership due to the injury to KL Rahul. BCCI then handed the captaincy to Pandya for the short 2 match series against Ireland. India won the 2 match T20 series with a 2-0 result, giving a winning start to Pandya as the Indian skipper.
Hardik Pandya creates history –
Hardik Pandya on Thursday created a history as he became the first Indian to score a 50 and take 4 wickets in a T20 international. Pandya joined a select band of players to achieve this feat. Pandya scored 51 with the bat and picked 4/33 with the ball as he kept his good form going.
Pandya has his say on the performance post the game –
Pandya who had quit bowling for a long time due to his injuries was bowling quick and got good amount of pace and bounce at Southampton on Thursday. Post the game Pandya was elated with his day out and said “ The last time I played a T20 in England, I think I took 4 wickets and scored some 30. So I kind of knew I was the first Indian to score fifty and take 4 wickets. I am enjoying my cricket right now.”
Fitness the key for Pandya –
Hardik Pandya suffered a terrible injury while bowling during a game against Pakistan during the 2018 Asia cup. The game in Dubai saw Hardik Pandya go down in a heap as he had to be helped off the field. Post that he still continued to bowl during the 2019 World Cup, but the bit was lacking. Speaking about his fitness, Pandya said “For me, a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. The kind of break I took before this run of play, I want to capitalize on the opportunities. I felt I needed that break. It is about giving your 100% and when you don’t do that, there is no point playing. So I needed that break and now I am happy to be in this place right now”
Pandya’s future in test cricket!!
Curiously last time Pandya played a test match was in the same Southampton ground way back in 2018. He made the bench for the 2021 home series against England, but the 28 year old hasn’t played in the whites for 4 years. Addressing this, the 28 year old from Baroda said “I want to make sure that I am available for as many games as possible for India. This is a white-ball season, big World Cups are coming, and the focus is more on white-ball. I now believe that the more I play white-ball cricket for India this season, it’s good. When the opportunity to play Test comes, definitely… but only time will tell what I should play and what I shouldn’t. But now I am focusing on giving 100 percent whenever I can”