Four years ago, it was at the same Dubai International Stadium, also against Pakistan, when Hardik Pandya hurt his back while fielding and had to be stretchered off. After that unhappy exit from the Asia Cup’s previous edition, Pandya continued to be plagued with injuries that went on to affect the all-rounder’s performance big time.
Cut to IPL 2022. Pandya, having recovered from a recurring back injury, returned to the field to lead league debutants Gujarat Titans to the title, making significant contributions with both bat and ball. Since then, Pandya, 28, has only kept delivering, stamping his authority as an ideal all-rounder. That agonising moment which cut short his 2018 Asia Cup campaign is still fresh in Pandya’s mind.
And that’s why he can feel a “sense of achievement” having taken those odds in his stride and steadily reaching where he wants to be. That’s something he acknowledged after his match-winning performance (3/25 and 33 not out) in Dubai on Sunday having guided India to a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in their Asia Cup Group A opener.
“I could recall everything, being stretchered off and then going to the same dressing room,” Pandya said during an interaction with teammate Ravindra Jadeja for bcci.tv. “You feel a sense of achievement because of all that transpired thereafter and the opportunities I got in what has been a wonderful journey so far. I’m enjoying the fruits of the journey, but behind the scenes, Soham Desai (India’s strength and conditioning coach) and (physio) Nitin Patel have done a wonderful job to facilitate my comeback. They deserve equal credit for it,” Pandya said.
His 17-ball knock against Pakistan on Sunday evening again proved how calm Pandya remains under pressure, which is in sharp contrast to how he used to be some years ago. “That’s one very important part of his game at present,” agreed former India fielding coach R. Sridhar.
“Hardik is a lot more mature cricketer now and there’s clarity in his thought. Both these factors have made him a far more confident player, which augurs really well for India not just in the coming T20 World Cup, but in next year’s 50-over World Cup as well,” Sridhar, who worked with the Indian team till last year’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, reasoned.
When Pandya walked in to bat on Sunday, India still needed 59 to win off 34 balls. Though the equation wasn’t all that tough, a little bit of pressure was definitely on India at that phase of the game. “The game plan with which he went about was absolutely brilliant,” Sridhar said.
“He took calculated risks and unleashed shots only when the ball was in his arc. “That’s certainly one good way of remaining calm under pressure. And Hardik was fabulous in terms of his execution.”
While he’s now one of India’s reliable finishers with the bat, Hardik has re-invented himself as one of India’s main wicket-takers as well, no longer being a support bowler to the quicks. He had proved so even during the recent white ball games versus England and on the West Indies tour, where he was economical in the T20I leg. Another factor that led to the rise of Pandya 2.0 is the faith the Titans showed in him by appointing him their captain.
“Captaincy inculcates a sense of responsibility in a player. This too has played a role in making Hardik more aware of his game and ability,” a former national selector said.
