Hardik Pandya was the antagonist of Indian Cricket not long ago. The 30-year-old was booed by fans of his own IPL franchise – Mumbai Indians, who he captained during the 2024 season. He had a poor campaign and was under much pressure from media and cricket experts throughout the tournament. His place in the T-20 World Cup was confirmed, but there weren’t a lot of expectations from him coming into the competition. However, all of that has changed since the tournament has resumed as Pandya is doing what he has always done, which is perform in big games.
The all-rounder yet again showed up for India as he scored a half-century and bagged a wicket against Bangladesh in the Super 8 game, which helped the Men in Blue get to a win. His exploits helped him win the Man of the Match award and prove to the world that he was still a match-winner. Pandya has easily been one of India’s best performers in the T-20 World Cup, he has scored 89 runs in 3 innings and taken 8 wickets in the 5 games that he has bowled so far.
There was a lot of chatter about Hardik Pandya and his ability to play cricket at an international level. This was certainly a little too harsh considering the fact that he had already proven his mettle on the world stage in previous ICC events. There was also a lot going on in Pandya’s personal life, but he kept all of that behind him and has been a top player for India in this tournament.
How important is Hardik Pandya to India’s chances at the T-20 World Cup?
Hardik Pandya has come onto bat at some crucial junctures for India at the T-20 World Cup. In the Super 8 game against Afghanistan, India were looking in a spot of bother after some crucial wickets had fallen. However, Pandya played some sensible cricket and put some runs on the board in the final few overs to help India reach a sensational run tally of 182 runs. He did something similar against Bangladesh, but this time was not afraid to take the riskier approach and play big shots to help India gain control of the game.
Both of these innings are a testament to Hardik’s maturity as a player. In his earlier days, the all-rounder would contribute, but his assessment of the situation was not remarkable, that doesn’t seem to be the case now, at least in this tournament. He has contributed massively with the bat and chipped in with two key innings for India in the Super 8s. His bowling has also been brilliant, but it gets overshadowed by the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah, who is having a dream tournament.
India looks like a side to beat in the T-20 World Cup. They have more or less confirmed their place in the Semi-Final, but the ultimate goal is still a few wins away. The top order has looked a little shaky for India and will need to step up. However, the middle-order has done well, particularly Pandya and if he continues to contribute the way he has done so far, India could go all the way and win it all.
