Hardik Pandya Birthday: Best Performances of India All-Rounder across Formats

sanjeev

khelja|11-10-2024

India's prized all-rounder Hardik Pandya turns 31 today. The talented player has gone through many ups and downs in his career but his grit and talent have played a crucial part in revival.
  Pandya has consistently delivered match-winning performances for India, showcasing his ability to turn games around. His contributions with the bat have been pivotal in several crucial matches, making him a key player in the Indian cricket team. Hardik has been a prolific performer for India across formats. He has played 11 Tests, 86 ODIs and 104 T20Is for India. Although injuries have often hindered his momentum, Hardik will be hoping for a resurrection in form and his status in the India team in the coming months. Hardik Pandya: Best performances of India All-Rounder across Formats Memorable Innings Against Australia One of Pandya's most notable innings came against Australia in 2017. During the first ODI at Chennai, he scored a blistering 83 runs off just 66 balls. This innings was instrumental in setting up a challenging target for Australia, which India successfully defended. He also picked up two wickets in the match. Pandya's aggressive batting style and ability to clear the boundary with ease were on full display during this match. His partnership with MS Dhoni was crucial in stabilising the Indian innings after early wickets had fallen. Impactful Performance in T20 Internationals Pandya's prowess is not limited to ODIs as he has also made significant contributions in T20 Internationals. In a match against England in 2021, he scored an unbeaten 39 off just 17 balls. This explosive innings helped India chase down a challenging target with ease. "Hardik is someone who can change games single-handedly," said Virat Kohli after one of Pandya's match-winning performances. Maiden Test Hundred vs Sri Lanka While Pandya is primarily known for his white-ball exploits, he has also made valuable contributions in Test cricket. In a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2017, he scored his maiden century, showcasing his adaptability across formats. Five-fer vs England in Nottingham In Test cricket, Hardik came up with a fantastic bowling performance against England in 2018. In the 3rd Test in Nottingham, Hardik crushed England in the first innings with a five-wicket haul. His magical figure of 6-1-28-5 pinned the hosts to just 161 runs, which included the wickets of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope. He also scored an important half-century for India in the second innings. The Indian team won the Test match, thus making a comeback in the series. T20 WC Final Bowling Performance Hardik Pandya showcased his mettle in the final of the T20 World Cup in 2024. The pacer picked up three wickets and bowled the crucial final over as India recorded their 2nd T20 World Cup title, beating South Africa in the process. Hardik Pandya and the IPL Chronicles In IPL, Hardik Pandya became the title-winning captain for Gujarat Titans in the franchise's inaugural year. He started his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians and then returned to the same franchise as captain in 2024. Over the years, Pandya has showcased his mettle in the IPL, and here are a couple of instances- 91 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2019 Hardik Pandya played a blitzkrieg against KKR at the Eden Gardens. He amassed 91 in just 34 balls and decimated the bowlers across the park. But surprisingly, Mumbai Indians still ended up in the losing side. 34 runs and 3/17 vs Rajasthan Royals, 2022 Hardik Pandya played a captain's match in the IPL 2022 Final. Bowling first, Pandya's three wickets restricted Rajasthan to just 130 runs. Then Hardik played a crucial part in the chase as well, scoring 34 runs as Gujarat Titans won the match at a canter.
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