NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra praised Hardik Pandya for his performance in India’s T20I series against Bangladesh on his YouTube channel. Chopra noted Pandya’s significant comeback after overcoming personal and professional challenges.
In the third T20I match in Hyderabad, Pandya was crucial in securing a 133-run victory for India by scoring 47 runs off 18 balls.This helped India set a record score of 297/6. India then restricted Bangladesh to 164/7, achieving a 3-0 series win.
“Hardik Pandya was the Player of the Series,” Chopra said, emphasizing Pandya’s recovery over the past year. “He has seen the lows of lows in his personal and professional life, getting booed – everything has happened,” Chopra added.Pandya consistently delivered quick runs throughout the series, maintaining a strike rate above 200 in most matches. Chopra highlighted his aggressive batting style, saying, “His batting in all three matches, he has played few balls but always with a strike rate above 200. I thought he was absolutely sensational.”
In the first T20I in Gwalior, Pandya scored an unbeaten 39 off 16 balls. In Delhi, he followed up with 32 runs off 19 balls. Chopra emphasized Pandya’s confidence and flair in his performances.
Chopra remarked, “His swag is different. It was like hooliganism. He hit a six over cover and a no-look one-handed six on the leg side… He is batting differently.”
Chopra concluded by noting the rare nature of such confident batting, saying, “It was almost like insulting the bowlers, as though they don’t have any status at all.”
Chopra’s comments highlight the importance of Hardik Pandya’s resurgence in India’s T20I series victory against Bangladesh.