Team India's all-rounder Hardik Pandya is celebrating his birthday on 11th October. 31 year old Pandya is an important part of the pace attack of the Indian team today. Along with breaking partnerships in the middle, he also bowls in the death overs. In the final of the T20 World Cup, he overturned the lost match on the basis of his bowling. First he broke the partnership by dismissing the dangerous looking Heinrich Klaasen and then by saving 16 runs in the last over, he made India the winner of the T20 World Cup after 17 years. Pandya took 3 important wickets for just 20 runs in 3 overs. But did you know that Pandya, who bowled with such charisma, was once a leg spinner? Then one incident completely changed his career.

How did Pandya become a fast bowler?

Hardik Pandya is a resident of Surat but his father Himanshu Pandya shifted to Baroda to pursue cricket. Because the facilities for playing cricket in Baroda were good. After this, he got Hardik and his elder brother Krunal admitted in the academy of former Indian wicketkeeper batsman Kiran More. According to his childhood personal coach Jitendra Kumar, 7 year old Hardik was very hardworking from the beginning. He used to reach the academy first. Hardik's father told that earlier he used to only bat. He started bowling very late and first tried his hand at leg spin.

Hardik's ability as a fast bowler was recognized by his childhood coach Sanath Kumar. One incident transformed him from a leg spinner to a fast bowler. Actually, once a net session was going on and the lower order batsmen had to practice. For this, some fast bowlers were needed but all the fast bowlers were tired. Then coach Sanath Kumar asked him to bowl in the nets. During this time, Hardik was throwing the ball at a speed of about 130 kilometers per hour. Everyone was surprised to see his pace and control. After this, Sanath Kumar started training him in this and today the result is in front of everyone.

Pandya used to bat stormy from the beginning

Hardik Pandya's personal coach told that he was a top order batsman from the beginning and was never afraid of hitting big hits. He had the ability to bat for hours. Many times, despite batting for a long session, he used to request more batting from his coach. In 2009, Hardik batted for 8 hours in the under-16 tournament of Vijay Hazare Trophy and scored 228 runs in 391 balls. During this period he hit 29 fours and 1 six. Because of this innings, he was selected in the Under-19 team of Cooch Behar Trophy.