T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya’s story of pain, grit and glory
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As soon as the legendary Kapil Dev announced his retirement, India started hunting for a quick bowler who could also bat and score hundreds of runs.
From Irfan Pathan and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar to Chetan Sharma and Ajit Agarkar, several people tried out for the role. Agarkar, for example, scored a century at Lord’s and then took six wickets in an innings as India defeated Australia in Adelaide.
They would all be selected for the team based on their bowling, but none of them would succeed based only on their batting.
Hardik Pandya, the most recent candidate to try out for the Kapil role, scored a half-century in his Test debut in Galle, Sri Lanka, then a century (with seven sixes) in the same series.
He scored 93 on the following test in Cape Town, South Africa. And he appeared to have stepped into the position when he took five for 28 in the Nottingham Test, including the wickets of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow (he also scored an unbeaten half-century).
Pandya, 29, has become India’s go-to all-rounder in T20 cricket over the past year or so. He averages close to 150 in T20 innings and exudes Mahendra Singh Dhoni-like composure under pressure.
He captained the national squad earlier this year after leading the IPL’s inaugural Gujarat Titans to victory and showcasing a talent for leadership and decision-making.
Pandya might be forced by circumstances to develop into that type of T20 specialist in modern cricket. Red-ball cricket has a different rhythm, and it puts a significant physical strain on the body. Since his debut, he has only participated in a sixth of India’s Test matches but nearly 60% of their T20 matches.
He bowls at a velocity that surprises batters and smashes the ball with astonishing power for a lean man. He is of the highest calibre as a fielder. It’s unfortunate that India might only get to see him in one format. He brings uncommon flamboyance to the game and exudes enthusiasm.
The first Hardik Pandya, though not quite the second Kapil Dev, and that’s sufficient.
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